To the editor,
World Farm Animal Day was on October 2, and brought attention to the suffering animals endure so we can eat them.
Stats Can reported Canada killed 650 million animals for food in 2004. Nova Scotia executed 200,800 pigs, 25,600 cows, 13,700 sheep and 21,924,000 chickens.
The Canadian Coalition for Food Animals states castrations, debeaking and branding (all performed without anaesthetics), forced confinement and artificial inseminations, depravation of sunlight and natural behaviours, skin ulcerations and disease are common on factory farms. North American slaughterhouses have the highest rates of turnover, meaning unskilled labour will be working. Animals arrive at the slaughterhouse alive and loaded with disease, and are butchered and served to the public. This isn't illegal.
Canada doesn't govern the care of farmed animals, nor has a slaughterhouse been charged with animal cruelty in 30 years. Councils and regulatory boards have no power to enforce criminal charges.
Please remember animals sacrifice their lives and endure pain and anguish for us.
By Lisa Diana