Protesters decry Canadian farm animal transportation laws

About two dozen people gathered near Yonge-Dundas Square to protest what they say are inhumane conditions for farm animals being transported to slaughter.

Thestar.com
Aug. 29, 2016
By Jackie Hong

Fifty-two hours.

That’s how long, under Canadian legislation, animals like cows, sheep and goats being transported to slaughter can go without being given food, water or a chance to rest.

And that, along with the 36 hours given for pigs and chickens, is too long, according to about two dozen demonstrators who gathered at the southwest corner of Yonge St. and Dundas St. Monday afternoon.

“The fact is, if we’re raising these animals for profit, we need to respect their needs and not subject them to suffering,” Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals director Lynn Cavanagh told the Star as she handed out pamphlets to passersby.

“The fact is that animals are sentient beings that suffer and we need to reduce that suffering and that fear and that stress as much as possible.”

The protest, organized by the CCFA and U.K.-based group Compassion in World Farming, was part of an international day of action against live-export trade and was one of three taking place in Canada. The date was chosen to coincide with the 20thanniversary of the sinking of the MV Uniceb, a 14,990-ton ship transporting over 67,000 sheep from Australia to Jordan when it caught fire and sank in the Indian Ocean. One crew member was killed in the blaze and the rest abandoned the vessel, leaving the sheep to die.

Protesters, who held signs with slogans like, “Animals Are Not Freight,” and photos of distressed pigs, cows and chickens in what appeared to be cramped, dirty transport trailers, called on the federal government to reduce the maximum amount of time animals in transport are allowed to go without food, water and rest. As well, the CCFA wants the government to better enforce current regulations surrounding farm animal welfare and require drivers that transport farm animals to have animal welfare training “so they can handle them in a gentle, humane manner,” Cavanagh said.

“People care about animals. Even if they’re not vegetarian or vegan, they don’t want to see animals suffer in this way.”

Several people also held signs in support for animal-rights activist Anita Krajnc, currently on trial for a charge of mischief after giving water to pigs in a tractor-trailer en route to a Burlington slaughterhouse.

Anne Griffin, a volunteer with CCFA, is a friend of Krajnc’s. She said that in the past, she has joined Krajnc to give pigs water and would do it again, and the condition the pigs were in when Krajnc gave them water was a perfect illustration of the transport conditions demonstrators were protesting.

“I think it’s a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Griffin said of the trial. “I read loads of comments online and some people say, ‘Oh, she may have put in something in the water that would poison the pigs.’ That is nonsense ... Anita devotes herself to animals 24/7. I’ve known Anita since 2010, she would not do any harm to the pigs.”

“Let’s face it, if someone said it was a truck full of dogs or cats, people would be there with water. It’s because (it was) pigs that people don’t care so much.”

Cavanagh said the charge against Krajnc was “unjust.”

“If we saw someone suffering on the street, we would try and help them, and that’s all she’s trying to do, is to help alleviate the suffering in a small way to these animals and that should be viewed as an act of compassion and kindness, not an act of criminality.”

Under Canada’s Heath of Animals Regulation, animals like cattle, sheep and goats heading towards a Canadian destination may be confined during transport without food, water and rest for up to 52 hours, while animals like chickens, pigs and horses may go without food, water and rest for up to 36 hours.

By comparison, the U.S. requires animals “in the course of interstate transportation” to be provided with proper food and water at a minimum of every 28 hours, with a possible eight-hour extension with permission from the owner of the livestock. The 28-hour rule does not apply to poultry.

Canadian federal officials could be not be reached for comment on the protesters’ objections.