Humane Slaughter of Food Animals

Every year hundreds of millions of domestic animals are slaughtered for human consumption.  The overriding need is to ensure that these animals are rendered unconscious by an approved and proven humane method before being shackled, hoisted and bled.

In 1960 the Government of Canada introduced legislation requiring that these conditions be met in all slaughter houses licensed by the Federal Government.  The new law did not apply to poultry and animals killed for special religious groups.

The Foundation constantly petitioned the Government to extend the Humane Slaughter Regulations to poultry and, in 1978, this action was finally taken.

In 1980, alarmed by the increasing reports of bad conditions in slaughter houses, the Foundation organized a survey of the abattoirs by experts.  The survey was extended in 1981 to horse slaughter houses.

In 1982, the Foundation agreed to meet the cost of a major survey of the physical lay-out of slaughter houses by an international expert.  Dr. Temple Grandin carried out the survey and prepared a detailed report with important recommendations.  Unfortunately that report has not yet produced any significant improvements.  The Grandin Report did not cover Quebec.

In 1984 the Foundation asked the Quebec Society for the Defence of Animals to survey conditions in slaughter houses in Quebec.  This report was completed and sent to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies and the Federal Department of Agriculture.

The Foundation continues to press for the methods used to render animals unconscious prior to slaughter to be upgraded in light of recent scientific information received from Europe.

<< Back to Works & Achievements