|
Factory Farm on Wheels Live Animal Transport Going to Market The Seven Seas Live Transport within the United States Horse Transport from the United States to Other Countries Safety on the Highways Other Live Animal Transports Take Action Going to Market Back to Top Although approximately 98 percent of all animals with whom humans interact are farmed animals, these creatures receive fewer legal protections than some wildlife and all companion animals. For instance, in the United States farmed animals are excluded from the federal Animal Welfare Act, which regulates the treatment of animals in other industries. In addition, few factory farmed animals are protected by any law when it comes to transporting them to slaughter. Whether conveyed by truck, cargo ship, or rail, animals destined for slaughterhouses often travel in horrendously crowded conditions where they experience extremes in weather conditions. They lack food and water. No veterinary care is available for them. They travel surrounded by their brethren who are terrified, diseased, dying, and dead. Some of these trips cross state lines, other national borders, and still others cross open seas. The hardships these animals endure during transit are rarely addressed. The Seven Seas Back to Top Australia is one of the largest exporters of live animals. Statistics for 2008 reveal that Australia exported approximately 870,000 cattle, 4.2 million sheep, and 76,000 goats to more than 30 countries. The livestock industry in that country ships live animals primarily to Middle Eastern countries where animals must be slaughtered in accordance to religious practices. Other receiving countries are the United States and Mexico and countries in Africa and Southeast Asia. Shipments typically have hundreds and even thousands of cattle, sheep, and goats jammed onto ocean vessels that take anywhere from several days to weeks to reach their destination. During the stressful voyage, the animals are exposed to extreme conditions in the cargo hold of the ship. They often lack proper food, water, and veterinary care. As many as 90,000 cattle died or became ill in 2008 in overseas live transports from Australia. Although Australia has high standards for the slaughter of animals within its country, once it ships these animals abroad, Australia’s standards no longer matter. Many of the receiving countries in the Middle East and Southeast Asia have significantly weaker animal welfare standards compared to the Australian standards and some have no standards at all. Therefore, animals raised in Australia often are slaughtered in direct violation of Australia’s own animal welfare laws; yet the country continues to allow the shipment of live cattle, sheep, and goats to these countries. Australia is not the only country engaging in live animal transport. China, Canada, and Greenland are among the many countries shipping animals overseas for ritual slaughter. The European Union curtailed live cattle export subsidies in 2005 (sheep and goats were not included). Most of the cattle transported live were sent to the Middle East. Philip Lymbery, chief executive of Compassion in World Farming, said of the decision to remove incentives for farmers to send cattle to the Middle East, “Live exports are inherently cruel, and all too often expose animals to long, stressful journeys and appalling slaughter methods.” Live Transport within the United States Back to Top In 1873 the United States government enacted the 28-hour law regarding the transportation of animals. This law states that animals cannot be confined for more than 28 consecutive hours without being unloaded for food, water, and rest. The primary method of transportation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was rail. Once the interstate highway system came into being, truck transport became the primary method of moving animals to slaughter. However, the 28-hour law was routinely ignored because it did not cover truck transport. This loophole was closed in 1994. Despite this, the law is still not routinely enforced. Animals often remain in cramped quarters inside tractor-trailers or on trains without access to food, water, or medical care. This law does not apply to poultry. Horse Transport from the United States to Other Countries Back to Top Prior to the closing of three foreign-owned horse slaughter plants in the United States, between 70,000 and 100,000 horses were being slaughtered annually, their flesh sent to European and Asian markets. However, even though these plants are closed, American horses are still being slaughtered only now they are first transported live to slaughter houses in Mexico and Canada. Horses are often transported in double-decker trucks designed to carry hogs and cattle. This type of transport does not allow the horses to stand in a comfortable position as the ceilings are intended for shorter, more compact animals. The 28-hour law is often ignored especially once the trucks have crossed out of U.S. territory. Safety on the Highways Back to Top Highway accidents are a fact of life. But what happens to the animals being transported when a tractor trailer carrying anywhere from 40 large animals to hundreds of birds is involved in an accident? Many animals lose their lives. There are no accurate statistics on the number of accidents involving the transport of live animals. The federal government does not require transporters to keep such information. What is known about these accidents is that most involve driver failure to negotiate turns, thereby causing the tractor trailer to overturn. Another often cited cause is driver fatigue. First responders to accident scenes are not typically trained in how to handle multiple animal casualties. Veterinary care is often delayed until owners of the animals are notified and can give orders as to the disposition of the animals. As a result, animals can suffer for hours trapped inside trailers. Those who are thrown free of the vehicle may wander the roadway causing additional accidents and injury. Horses, in particular, are often transported in double-tiered tractor trailers. Because of the excessive weight on the second tier, the upper floor can collapse sending the second tier of horses down on to the first tier. Then, the weight of all those horses causes the lower carriage to collapse. Horses are dragged along the roadway as a result. Recently, a bill before the U.S. Congress (HR 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009) that prohibits the interstate transport of horses in motor vehicles containing two or more levels stacked on top of one another failed to pass. Other Live Animal Transports Back to Top In addition to the millions of live farmed animals transported around the world each year, many live exotic animals, reptiles, insects, birds, and other wildlife are shipped to destinations around the globe. A sampling of export sites included the following list of animals: crocodiles, elephants, pheasants, monkeys, caracals, parrots, toucans, turtles, tropical fish. Many of these animals are transported to zoos, scientific laboratories, and private collectors, among other destinations. Take Action to Help Animals Destined for Live Transport What can you do to change what is happening to animals being transported live? First, set an example by selecting a vegetarian/vegan diet. By cutting down your intake of animals and animal products, you reduce the need for animals to be bred for consumption. Other humane actions include: - Contact your legislators to express your displeasure with live animal transport.
- Support legislation to require stricter regulation and enforcement of animal farming welfare and treatment laws to include transport requirements.
- If you do eat animals, purchase meats from locally farmed and slaughtered animals who will not be subjected to long, miserable journeys before arriving on your plate.
August 2009 Back to Top |
