Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Good morning. My name is Ewa Demianowicz, and I'm the campaign manager for Humane Society International/Canada. I would have liked to speak to you in French today, but since most members of this committee understand English, I'll continue my presentation in that language.
Humane Society International is a leading animal protection group with offices around the world. We represent supporters across the country who are opposed to the live export of horses by air for slaughter. Nearly 50,000 people have responded to our action alert on this issue. Just yesterday, new poll results show that seven out of 10 Canadians oppose the export of live horses by air for slaughter. Canadians and people around the world are watching and supporting Bill C-355.
Transportation is one of the most stressful experiences that animals are forced to endure. Limiting its duration and committing to the highest animal welfare standards possible during transport should be the objective of any country that takes the issue of animal welfare seriously. The best available scientific evidence shows that animals should not be transported for more than eight hours without a break, as is the case in the European Union for many species, including horses.
Currently, total time of this complex journey to Japan is significantly above this duration. Once the horses leave the country, the clock is reset, and Canadian authority no longer applies. At the destination in Japan, Canada has no authority on how these horses are treated. This is an extremely long and exhausting journey for them without food, water or rest. The stressful conditions in which these horses are transported have caused injury and death. Flying these highly sensitive and easily agitated animals in small wooden crates, with multiple horses per crate, without a veterinary equine expert on board, without access to food and water and without rest is inhumane.
Approximately 47,000 horses have already endured this horrible journey to Japan in the exhausting and difficult conditions that have been described in front of this committee, only to be served as a luxury dish.
We have the opportunity to put an end to this practice and prevent the suffering of thousands more horses by passing Bill C-355.
I will now let my colleague, Dr. Nicholas Dodman from the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, speak to you.