AR-News: (CA) Avian Flu and Cruel Slaughter (press release)

[Barry Kent MacKay]

Measures to Combat Avian Flu Could Mean a Cruel Death for Millions of Birds



A call for more humane slaughter methods and monitoring by BCSPCA
 (VANCOUVER -- APRIL 7, 2004) An animal welfare tragedy of monumental
proportions could unfold if federal authorities proceed with plans to kill
infected birds by gassing them to death with carbon dioxide. 19-million
chickens, turkeys, ducks and pigeons in the Fraser Valley are on the list to
be slaughtered if they test positive for Avian Flu.

Last month 16,000 chickens were gassed to death. But reportedly, the process
took several hours, raising concerns that the birds inside did not die a
quick humane death.

"Canada's animal welfare laws are supposed to protect animals from inhumane
forms of slaughter like this," says Bruce Passmore, a CCFA spokesperson in
Vancouver. "Far from being guaranteed a quick, humane death as mandated by
law, millions of birds are at risk of dying a slow suffocating death that
can only be regarded as cruel."

The use of carbon dioxide gas as a slaughter method is highly controversial
as it can cause aversive reactions in animals before they die, including
struggling and gasping for air. The effects could be worsened in a 'make do'
barn setting where it could take hours for the gas to build up in sufficient
quantities to kill the birds. Canada's federal slaughter regulations require
the "rapid loss of consciousness" before death.

The Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals recommends:

  a.. That argon or nitrogen gas mixtures be used instead of pure carbon
dioxide to achieve a sudden loss of consciousness in the birds; and
  b.. That the CFIA make funding available to ensure that trained BCSPCA
personnel or a BCSPCA-selected third-party veterinarian be present to
monitor the slaughter of infected birds.
The Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals represents animal-protection
organizations across Canada with a collective membership of 100,000
Canadians.



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Media Contacts:

  a.. Stephanie Brown, Farm Animal Welfare Advisor, Animal Alliance of
Canada, (416) 920-4984
  b.. Debra Probert, Executive Director, Vancouver Humane Society, (o)
604-266-9744, (h) 604-596-4835 (cell) 604-722-7796
  c.. Bruce Passmore, Farm Animal Welfare Project Coordinator, Vancouver
Humane Society, (o) 604-266-9744  (h) 604-684-5113 (cell) 604-603-5401



___________________

  Barry Kent MacKay
  Canadian Representative
  ANIMAL PROTECTION INSTITUTE 
  www.api4animals.org