We have a lot to accomplish together in 2018, but I know compassionate people like you are ready to fight for what’s right. Your dedication to animal welfare makes the work we do possible.
In 2018 we have a busy year that promises a start to significant change for Canada’s farm animals including how they are transported.
It was over one year ago on February 15th, 2017 that the public comment period closed on Canada's woefully out-of-date animal transportation regulations. We are still waiting for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to release the updated regulations, which have been in the works for more than ten years. To allow the public to show its support we have started a letter writing campaign. You can remind your MP that this issue is important to you, that animal welfare matters and that we need strong transportation regulations to protect animals from pain, suffering and death by visiting the link provided in this report.
While we wait for the update to the regulations to be released we continue our support of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) work to establish a new transportation code affecting all farmed animals. The difference between the federal government’s regulations and the NFACC code of practice is that the code of practice will be industry based and responds to consumer pressure. As the only animal welfare group at the table we can press for the highest standards of animal care.
These codes are informed by an impartial Scientists Committee so that code recommendations are linked with science. It is widely accepted that animal welfare codes, guidelines, standards or legislation should take advantage of the best available knowledge. This independent group is nearing the completion of their ground breaking report on the needs of animals in transportation that will form the development of the NFACC code.
As well this year we will be working with NFACC on the development of first time codes for goats and fish and updating the dairy code which promotes appropriate housing and husbandry as essential for the health and well being of the almost 1 million dairy cattle in Canada.
Thank you for being such a wonderful ally in the fight to ensure better conditions for all Canada’s farm animals, together we can make great strides to create a more humane Canada in 2018.
Your donation allows us to fight for the highest standards of animal welfare on Canadian farms.
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In Canada each year, approximately 700 million farm animals are transported from farm to auction or slaughter. Approximately 1.6 million of these animals, mostly chickens, are found dead on arrival. Many more arrive sick or injured following their long, grueling journeys and need to be euthanized. Transportation is the most alien and stressful experience that a farm animal will have in its lifetime. The longer and harder this experience is, the more risk there is of stress-induced illness, injury and death. These animals deserve more dignity and care – just because they are headed to slaughter does not mean we should allow them to suffer while they are still alive.
One of the major hurdles that we face is that in December 2016, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released Canada's new draft transport regulations. After more than 10 years of pushing for an overhaul of our inadequate and irresponsible regulations, CFHS is disappointed to report that the proposed changes don't go nearly far enough. We are also dissapointed that it has been 10 months since the public comment period ended and we still have not seen the final proposed regulation.
CFHS is the founding national animal welfare organization of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), which coordinates a national approach to advance farm animal welfare through development of species specific Codes of Practice for on farm care and handling.
In 2018, in addition to work on current codes of practice, NFACC will also convene the Code Development Committee to develop a revised Transportation Code as the current code is out of date and needs to align with current animal welfare science.
The work of NFACC promises the opportunity to ensure that industry will have standards stricter than the CFIA regulations that align with current animal welfare science.
CFHS provides subject experts who sit as CFHS Representatives during deliberations with stakeholders throughout the process and these experts will be tasked with ensuring new requirements and recommended best practices are measurably closer to the Five Freedoms.
This work will ensure strong animal welfare expertise is brought to the development of science-informed standards to advance a transportation system that better meets the needs of animals. The initiative will influence the lives of millions of animals annually, now and into the future.
Thank you for your past support and we hope we can continue to count on you as we undertake this process.
Links:
CFHS is the founding national animal welfare organization of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), which coordinates a national approach to advance farm animal welfare through development of species specific Code of Practice for on farm care and handling.
In Canada each year, approximately 700 million farm animals are transported from farm to auction or slaughter. Approximately 1.6 million of these animals, mostly chickens, are found dead on arrival. Many more arrive sick or injured following their long, grueling journeys and need to be euthanized. Transportation is the most alien and stressful experience that a farm animal will have in its lifetime. The longer and harder this experience is, the more risk there is of stress-induced illness, injury and death. These animals deserve more dignity and care – just because they are headed to slaughter does not mean we should allow them to suffer while they are still alive.
One of the major hurdles that we face is that in December 2016, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released Canada's new draft transport regulations. After more than 10 years of pushing for an overhaul of our inadequate and irresponsible regulations, CFHS is disappointed to report that the proposed changes don't go nearly far enough.
In 2018, in addition to work on current codes of practice, NFACC will convene the Code Development Committee to develop a revised Transportation Code to replace the current out of date code and ensure it aligns with current animal welfare science.
The work of NFACC promises the opportunity to ensure that industry will have standards stricter than the CFIA regulations that align with current animal welfare science and that we can create an industry that transports animals in a timely fashion without suffering by meeting their animal welfare needs.
This initiative will influence the lives of millions of animals annually, now and into the future.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) is preparing for one of the largest undertakings we have been part of that could affect the health and welfare of the over 700 million animals transported annually from Canadian farms.
CFHS is a founding member of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), which coordinates a national approach to advance farm animal welfare through the development of species specific Codes of Practice for on farm care and handling (Codes).
Thanks to your donation we have recently ensured a better life for many animals on the farm and now we have to look to their welfare as they leave.
As the only national animal welfare organization on NFACC Code Development Committees, CFHS provides subject experts who sit as CFHS Representatives during negotiations with stakeholders throughout the process. In 2018, NFACC begins the process of drafting a new Transportation Code as the current code is out of date and out of step with animal welfare science.
CFHS will be tasked with ensuring new requirements and recommended best practices are measurably closer to the Five Freedoms.
Approximately 1.6 million of the 700 million animals transported annually are found dead on arrival. Many more arrive sick or injured following long, grueling journeys and need to be euthanized. Once implemented, the Code will have a broad and tangible impact by increasing animal welfare standards of care during transport.
Coming out of this negotiation we need an industry transporting animals in a timely fashion without suffering by meeting their animal welfare needs and a national tool ensuring those involved in transport will understand the requirements and recommendations that meet animal welfare standards in transport.
Your donation will help ensure that we are prepared for this negotiation and have the best people at the table.
WARNING: disturbing, graphic content to follow
WATCH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_cQBFvoo38
Shocking video footage showing workers hitting, kicking and throwing chickens, and smashing them into walls and transport crates has been released in Chilliwack, British Columbia. The investigation into this incident has resulted in five farm workers being fired with investigators calling the abuse “brutal and sadistic.”
As investigations into this abuse continue, it’s more important than ever to show your support for the humane care and handling of farm animals.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) is the only animal welfare organization to sit on the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), a group of diverse stakeholders who develop Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals, create a process for the development of animal care assessment programs and provide a forum for open dialogue on farm animal welfare.
Through NFACC, we have negotiated on behalf of farm animals across Canada. This year, we have already seen successes for egg-laying hens through the “Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens”, a code that sets unprecedented standards for egg-laying hens in North America – rivaling those of the European Union and far surpassing those in the United States.
And, we’re pleased to say that more and more provinces, like Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan, are entrenching these NFACC Codes of Practice into provincial law.
While it’s important to celebrate these successes, it is vital that we continue to fight for those animals that still face abuse, like the chickens in Chilliwack, and your support keeps us at the NFACC table!
We still have a long way to go and we need your help! Your gift to CFHS allows us to continue our vital work in transitioning Canada’s farms to more humane practices!
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