ANOTHER ANIMAL CRUELTY HORROR — WHILE CANADA’S SENATE WAFFLES OVER ANIMAL WELFARE REFORM

Posted on October 16, 2003 by Dave Pollard

The waffling of the Canadian Senate over Bill C10(b) — the act to reform Canada’s animal cruelty law for the first time since 1892 — must be held at least partly responsible for the horrific and despicable tragedy at Wood Lynn Farms’ six Ontario ‘facilities’, where 10,000 sick and diseased pigs were found in conditions that are nearly indescribable. This operation was until recently Canada’s largest pig breeder and exporter, and it was a customer complaint — not any action from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, which self-regulates its members’ behaviour — that led to the discovery that has so traumatized inspectors and veterinarians treating the dead and suffering animals that some will need psychological counseling. Just the facts:

Heaps of dead pigs piled behind barns
Thousands of dead piglets in manure tanks
Dead piglets being eaten by rodents
Dead pigs throughout many of the facilities in various stages of decomposition
Sows giving birth amongst other pigs, resulting in piglets being trampled and eaten by adults
Extensive cannibalization
Many pigs in such poor condition that they had to be euthanized immediately
On arrival at one location, a Wood Lynn Farms Limited contractor attempting to kill a pig by beating it with a metal pipe
Generally filthy and wet conditions in many areas, and inadequate food, water and bedding

Charged are the following individuals (the company is bankrupt and hence will face no charges):

James R. Long of London, Ontario;
Ryan Long of London, Ontario;
Kevin McHardy of Lambeth, Ontario;
Martin Dewild of Wyoming, Ontario;
George Kahiri of London, Ontario;
Victor Aideyan of London, Ontario;
John Bazilli of Waterford, Ontario.

Because Bill C10(b) has been blocked by the Senate, none of these people will face jail time or major fines. In fact, under the prevailing 1892 law that defines all animals as ‘property’, these scum will be allowed to own a commercial farm operation again in as little as a year. Long continues to run a pig ‘genetics’ operation whose online newsletter is allegedly read by 70,000 pig farmers.

I can’t tell you how upset and angry this makes me. This is the type of incident that turns reasonable people into animal rights extremists. As I reported earlier, a powerful lobby of factory farmers, hunters, and animal laboratory owners has worked hard for years to ensure the unelected Canadian Senate blocks the very modest Bill C10(b) despite the fact it has been passed three times by the elected House of Commons. Incidents like this are the result. They show how effective ‘self-regulation’, which the lobby says is preferable to the ‘dangerous’ regulation of C10(b), really is.

This lobby, and the Senate, have blood on their hands, and should hang their heads in shame for allowing this to occur, with virtual impunity for the perpetrators of this horrendous crime.

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10 Responses to ANOTHER ANIMAL CRUELTY HORROR — WHILE CANADA’S SENATE WAFFLES OVER ANIMAL WELFARE REFORM

catnmus says:

October 16, 2003 at 20:06

So, how do we find who these people sell their pigs to, so that we can boycott those brands?
anthony says:

October 16, 2003 at 21:30

Unfortunately, this kind of thing is probably much more common than we would like to think. We are so far removed from the processing of our food and other commodities that it has become so easy for uncaring, money-hungry individuals to abuse animals in this way for their own profit. One of many good reasons to become a vegetarian.
Jennifer says:

October 17, 2003 at 11:06

Yes, very true. The sick part is that it’s always been this way. Upton Sinclair’s “The Jungle” raised questions about the safety of eating canned meat from the fledgling meat packing industry in Chicago. Many of the laws that regulate the industry arouse out of this outcry. The meat industry has spent decades trying to roll back these protections.I highly recommend the works of Sue Coe. Her two books, “Dead Meat” and “Meat: Animals and Industry” are a very disturbing trip inside the modern meat industry.
kara says:

October 17, 2003 at 11:12

Your photo brought tears to my eyes and I bow my head. Thanks Dave for keeping us informed.”The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by a halo. When we have a choice, we must avoid bringing torment and injury into the life of another, even the lowliest creature; to do so is to renounce our manhood and shoulder a guilt which nothing justifies.” –Albert Schweitzer
Dave Pollard says:

October 17, 2003 at 16:36

Catnmus: The company’s bankrupt, so it has no customers anymore, and at any rate it sold breeding stock to individual farms (all over the world) not to processors. I tried to find out who buys from scumbag Long’s remaining company (the pork genetics company called Baconmaker) but when you go into its website (baconmaker.com) it crashes your browser. Jennifer: Thanks for the book references — I’ll check them out.Kara: Great quote from a great man. Thank you.
Yule Heibel says:

October 17, 2003 at 23:09

Also take a look at this review of J.M. Coetzee’s work. This stuff has been on my mind a lot lately, too.
Dave Pollard says:

October 18, 2003 at 09:30

Yule: Thanks — I have never read Coetzee, for reasons I don’t know (because I read a lot), and now I will. The review is very good. In return I suggest Barbara Gowdy’s ‘The White Bone’, a book written entirely from the perspective of, and trying to use the possible language syntax and perceptual worldview of, elephants.
Yule Heibel says:

October 18, 2003 at 13:30

Thanks Dave, will make a note of Gowdy. I have yet to read Coetzee myself, have only read about him. How do you find time to read a lot when you’re probably also reading a lot online? By the time I’ve gone through a few blogs, the day is nearly done! ;-)
Dave Pollard says:

October 18, 2003 at 21:20

Yule, I confess that I speed-read most nonfiction, since most of it is about 10 times longer than it needs to be, and I’m very selective reading fiction, preferring short stories to novels and often abandoning novels part way through. I have more discipline in my blog reading, generally reading everything in my blogroll at left twice a week, with certain days allotted to certain categories.
David Pierce says:

October 30, 2007 at 23:38

The situation concerning the pigs was inexcusable. The individuals who would call themselves Catholics and yet perpetrated such deeds against children were indeed hypocritical. I also abhor such things and we should all seek to stop such things. However, one can’t tar all Christians with the same brush. The ‘Jesus’ in the song quoted is not the Jesus I know. The Jesus I know is intimately concerned with all the details of our lives and with us becoming righteous. And remember, just because you confess your sins, all responsibility has not been absolved . Rather, someone else has been punished instead of you, namely Jesus. And you still have to finish living your life. Don’t be fooled – if you call yourself a Christian but there’s no real change inside your heart, evidenced by outward actions, you’ll be the one to whom God says: ‘Depart from me; I never knew you.’