Take Action for Farm Animals

Learn more about animal transport and write to the Minister of Agriculture, your MP and the Prime Minister urging them to create stronger legislation governing the welfare of animals during transport and better enforcement of this legislation.

Write to:

The Honourable Gerry Ritz
Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6
Tel: (613) 995-7080
Fax: (613) 996-8472
Email: Ritz.G@parl.gc.ca

The Right Honourable Steven Harper
Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Fax: 613-941-6900
Email: pm@pm.gc.ca 

Sample Letter
 
Dear (MP, Ritz, Harper),

I am writing to urge you to reform Canada’s antiquated animal transportation laws. Each year in Canada, more than 600 million farmed animals suffer routine abuses and traumas during their transport to auction and slaughter. These animals experience tremendous psychological and physiological stress and exhaustion as they are transported in cramped, overcrowded, unsanitary conditions and are subjected to rough handling, beatings and electric shocks; and all this without food or water and in extreme temperatures. By law, these horrific conditions can last up to 72 hours.

As a result, many animals suffer horrific injuries, diseases are spread and some die before ever reaching their destination. In fact, more than 12 million animals arrive dead or dying at Canadian inspected slaughterhouses each year. 

Despite the prevalence of abuse and more than 500 000 truckloads of animals on the road each year, the Canadian Food Inspection only convicts and fines about 6 truckers per year for violations. Enforcement is clearly not adequate, with too few CFIA inspectors and only spot-check inspections on Canadian highways. The Canadian government is needlessly turning a blind eye to the suffering of hundreds of millions of animals.

I hope Canadians can count on your support for strong changes to the animal transportation laws to end needless suffering.

Sincerely,

[your name, your city]