Actress, writer, horse-breeder Bo Derek notes the need to modernize and toughen canadian laws in the face of prominent cruelty cases and an empending American ban on horse slaughter that mean that 100.000 horses could be killed here in the next year.

Politicians have failed to modernize Canada´s 115-year-old animal cruelty laws despite the fact that it´s been eight years since new legislation was first tabled.

There is no law specifically protecting wild horses here though the U.S. has offered legal protection of its wild horses sinve 1971.

The closure of major American slaughter operations in the face of an empending ban, has meant an over 40% increase in the number of horses crossing the border to be slaughtered in Canada.

“I was surprised to discover that Canada has animal cruelty laws that were written a century ago, that there is no protection at all here for wild horses and that 300 horses a day could face death in a trade most Canadians would want no part of”, said Bo Derek. Dereh added, “An opinion survey conducted showed the majority of Canadians opposed to horse slaughter, and I believe it is only a matter of making Canadians aware of what´s going on, to end these practice”.

Derek and Sinikka Crosland of the CHDC will be available in Vancouver to comment to the media on the launch of the CHDC´s campaign to increase protection for Canada´s horses.

Source: The CNW Group 

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