Send hope to farmed animals this New Year

For many years, the Vancouver Humane Society has been advocating for a more humane and ethical food system, where farmed animals—who are so often overlooked—are treated with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Thanks to your support, significant progress has been made in our farmed animal advocacy efforts in 2024. Here are a few highlights from the year:

• Throughout the year, the VHS supported a life-saving policy change – Bill C-355, which aims to ban the export of live horses on stressful and risky flights for slaughter. Supporters were encouraged to write to the House of Commons, the Agriculture Committee, and the Senate throughout the process, urging them to move forward with the bill and prioritize a ban.
• We have continued to advocate for changes to farmed animal codes of practice, including encouraging supporters to have their say on the welfare of horses on farms and cattle, turkeys, and chickens used for meat. We called on supporters to provide feedback to The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for transparent labelling on egg products and we supported a federal e-petition to recognize animals as sentient beings rather than property under the law.
• A School Toolkit for teachers and student clubs in secondary schools was created to help make plant-based eating more accessible and support food system change in schools. The toolkit was shared with 89 teachers at schools in the Lower Mainland, many of whom are sponsors for student clubs such as green teams and animal welfare clubs.  
• Our Plant University team launched their “Dairy-Free for No Fee” campaign in October, which encourages cafes to eliminate surcharges for plant-based milk, fostering inclusivity and attracting new customers.

This is just a glimpse of the many campaigns and projects we’ve been working on in 2024. None of this work would be possible without compassionate advocates like you. There is still so much more to do in 2025 and beyond, which is why I’m hopeful that you’ll consider donating today to help improve the lives of animals in need.

Together, we can continue working towards a safer and happier future for all animals.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Claire Yarnold, Development Director