My name is Dr. Nicholas Dodman. I'm a veterinarian, board-certified in veterinary anaesthesia and as a behaviourist. I'm experienced in equine anaesthesia, analgesia and behaviour. I've worked with thousands of horses over the course of my career. I retired from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2016 as professor emeritus after 25 years on the faculty.
I'm here today to shed light on a practice that has remained largely in the shadows of our consciousness: the shipping of horses by air for slaughter in remote locations such as Japan. As a veterinarian and animal behaviourist, it's my solemn duty to bring attention to the inherent disadvantages and ethical concerns surrounding the long-distance air transportation of horses.
The issues with such stressful transportations are multiple horses housed together in a single crate; horses with no training or prior experience of air travel; horses not accompanied en route or monitored by, preferably, an equine specialist; plus 24 hours or more of transport without food, water, or rest.
First, let us acknowledge the innate nature of the horse. These magnificent creatures are not merely commodities; they are sentient beings with complex emotional and physical needs. Placing them in a confined and stressful environment in an aircraft goes against their very essence. That is why measures must be taken to ensure their safety and well-being.
The transportation we are discussing today ignores the principal needs of horses. To confine them in a crate and subject them to the noise, vibration and turbulence of air travel is to inflict upon them a level of stress and discomfort that is both unnecessary and inhumane. Moreover, the logistics of shipping horses by air pose significant risks to their health and well-being. Unlike other livestock, horses are inherently flighty and easily scared.
The stress of the plane’s motion and the noise inside the aircraft can lead to shipping fever and colic. Shipping fever causes respiratory distress, fever and dehydration. Furthermore, the close proximity of multiple horses in a confined space, four to a crate, increases the risk of injury. Unfamiliar horses may not be compatible and should not travel together in close contact, with three to four horses in a single crate that has no divisions. Extreme care must be taken when flying horses by air, which is not the case with the type of transportation we are discussing today.
In conclusion, the practice of shipping horses by air for slaughter from Canada to Japan is not only ethically questionable, but is also fraught with practical concerns. As stewards of the animal kingdom, it is incumbent upon us to seek alternatives that prioritize the health, safety and dignity of horses, ensuring a future in which they are treated with the respect and compassion they so rightly deserve.
Thank you.