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animal welfare compassion cruelty Cruelty-free Donate ethics News/Blog Promoted rodeo

Montreal SPCA supports call to cancel Grey Cup rodeo

 

Bucking horse at Calgary Stampede. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur, We Animals

 

UPDATE: Since we first published this post, we’ve received another letter of support, this time from the Ottawa Humane Society, backing our call for the CFL to cancel the Grey Cup rodeo.

The Montreal SPCA has joined Vancouver Humane in calling on the Canadian Football League (CFL) to scrap plans to hold a rodeo at this year’s Grey Cup.

In a letter to CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie, Montreal SPCA executive director Élise Desaulniers said, “Canadians want family-friendly, cruelty-free entertainment to be part of national celebrations, not out-dated spectacles of animal cruelty.”

Vancouver Humane is grateful for this support from one of the leading animal protection agencies in Canada and will be engaging with other animal groups to build wider opposition to the rodeo, which is to be held on November 23, as part of the Grey Cup Festival in Calgary.

Vancouver Humane has launched an e-campaign that allows concerned members of the public to send a message to the CFL and organizers of the Grey Cup Festival, urging them to cancel the rodeo.  If you haven’t already participated in the campaign, you can do so here.

Vancouver Humane recently had an opinion editorial published on the Daily Hive, which explained why holding a rodeo at the Grey Cup is not only wrong because of the suffering caused to animals, but also because it is a marketing blunder to associate the CFL with inhumane rodeo events.

Your donations help our campaigns against rodeo cruelty.

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animal welfare compassion Cruelty-free Dairy ethics Food and Drink News/Blog plant-based diet Promoted school vegan vegetarianism

Cambridge University Cuts Emissions With Less Meat & More Plant-based Foods

 

Back in 2016, Cambridge University made the decision to remove beef and lamb from its campus menus and offer more plant-based dishes in an effort to reduce its food-related emissions.

Cambridge pointed to the fact that producing beef and lamb emits 250 times more greenhouse gases per gram of protein than legumes (lentils, chickpeas, beans) and that one meal with beef or lamb has the same footprint as eight months of chickpea-based meals. They also highlighted that plant-based foods require less water and land than animal-based foods.

The school has since reported that the decision, which was part of its Sustainable Food Policy, has been effective in reducing emissions per kilogram of food purchased by 33 per cent and land use per kilogram of food purchased by 28 per cent. The move cut the school’s overall emissions by 10.5 per cent, while simultaneously increasing sales and profit.

“It is hard to imagine any other interventions that could yield such dramatic benefits in so short a span of time,” said Andrew Balmford, professor of Conservation Science at the University of Cambridge.

In swapping out red meat options for more plant-based dishes, the school focused on making plant-based dishes appealing and accessible. Cambridge’s catering team took part in plant-based cooking classes, visited restaurants with plant-based menus for inspiration and managers received training on marketing for sustainability rather than for profit.

Meanwhile, dishes added to the menu were strategically placed in the cafeteria so as to highlight them specifically and encourage customers to choose them over meat-based options.

When it came to the labelling of dishes, staff focused on the ingredients rather than identifying dishes as specifically “veg” or “vegan”. They hoped this would create universal appeal and that customers would focus on the deliciousness of the dish.

Some of the most popular plant-based dishes include Swedish style vegballs with mash and creamy mustard sauce, smoky Moroccan chickpea stew with saffron infused couscous and a sweet potato burger.

The success of this decision by Cambridge University serves as an inspiring example for other post-secondary schools and institutions that offer food service. It also comes at a crucial time, as a growing body of research concludes that a significant reduction in global meat consumption is essential for addressing climate change, the global biodiversity crisis and the high demand for meat that drives the cruel factory farming system.

Interested in introducing or expanding plant-based menu options at your school, workplace, business or in your community? Get in touch to learn about our Plant-Based Plates program! 

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compassion Cruelty-free Food and Drink News/Blog plant-based diet Promoted Uncategorized vegan vegetarianism

Introducing Our New Plant-Based Plates Program

Since the launch of our Meatless Monday program in 2015 we’ve worked with public institutions, including schools and hospitals, to introduce more veg and vegan options to their cafeteria menus.

As the demand for plant-based foods continues to grow, so has our work to improve public access to these humane, healthy and sustainable menu options. We’re excited to launch our new Plant-Based Plates program, which expands on our Meatless Monday work to bring plant-based dishes to daily menus.

Through presentations, culinary support, menu sampling and outreach, we aim to help food service teams and food policy decision-makers put more plants on plates and to educate and empower the public in making more informed food choices that are better for animals, the planet and public health.

Earlier this summer, we kicked off our new Plant-Based Plates initiative by offering a culinary workshop and guest chef pop-up at the BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital. The hospital’s food service team explored making a number of plant-based dishes, including a Pad Thai and a Pulled BBQ Jackfruit Burrito. Vancouver Humane staff offered samples of the dishes during the lunch hour and handed out information and free recipes to hospital guests. The dishes proved popular, selling out during lunch, and the recipes have since been added to the café’s menu rotation.

Guest Chef Andrea Potter of Rooted Nutrition leads BC Children’s & Women’s Hospital staff in a plant-based culinary workshop.

We look forward to continuing to support institutions throughout Metro Vancouver in bringing their menus into alignment with the growing body of evidence that concludes a global dietary shift toward a plant-based diet is not only one of the most effective ways to reduce our individual environmental footprint, but it’s also necessary if we are to meet our global climate targets. This is why Plant-Based Plates will also focus on government food and procurement policies, encouraging a shift toward prioritizing animal-friendly and climate-friendly plant-based foods.

We all have a role to play in protecting animals, the planet and public health, and a great place to start is with what we put on our plates. Looking for recipes? Take our Plant-Based Pledge and receive a weekly recipe sent to your inbox! If you’re interested in bringing more plant-based meals to your school/school district, workplace or community, we encourage you to check out our new Plant-Based Plates website and get in touch with us! Please also consider making a donation to help us continue this important work.

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animal welfare compassion News/Blog Promoted Uncategorized

VHS Visits The Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary

 

Earlier this week, Vancouver Humane Society staff spent the morning volunteering at The Happy Herd Farm Sanctuary in Aldergrove.

After helping clean up around the sanctuary, we spent some down time with the rescued animals who call Happy Herd home.

The pigs came running to the gate to greet us and ask for treats (which they sat nicely for!). While we cleaned, they played in the mud and requested the occasional belly rub.

We also visited with the goats while they enjoyed their lunch, which they generously shared with some of the chickens. Lunch was followed by the goats showing off their climbing skills on the ramps set up in their area.

The cows spent the morning lounging in the field and soaking up the sun. Meanwhile, the turkeys, Moe and Leonard, who go everywhere together, stopped by to show off their beautiful feathers and to check in on everyone. They’re very curious and love following guests around the sanctuary.

Seeing the animals at Happy Herd live out their lives as they should – playing, exploring, enjoying a mud bath, asking to be pet and napping in the shade – is a reminder of how similar they are to the cats and dogs we open our homes and hearts to. They share the same capacity for love, happiness, fear and suffering, yet society treats them very differently.

This is something both The Happy Herd and Vancouver Humane strive to change. Please consider supporting the wonderful work that Happy Herd does to help farmed animals in need and be sure to mark your calendars for our joint Giving Tuesday fundraiser on December 3rd!

 

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animal welfare compassion cruelty Cruelty-free ethics Food and Drink News/Blog plant-based diet Promoted vegan vegetarianism

Nuggets from peas, not chicks, is progress

This week, KFC made headlines around the world when it tested Beyond Meat’s plant-based nuggets and boneless wings at a single KFC restaurant in Atlanta.  The test appeared to be a resounding success, as there were long line-ups to try the new meat-free product and it sold out in five hours.

Less well-known are KFC’s plans to test the nuggets in Canada, which were revealed to the Daily Hive by a KFC Canada spokesperson:

“KFC Canada is cooking up a new plant-based creation of our own in our Canadian kitchen with our world-renowned craveable taste… We plan to test in select restaurants by the end of 2019 with a national launch in 2020.”

Of course, this is just the latest in a stunning number of plant-based product launches in recent years.  Just about everyone has heard of Beyond Burgers and Impossible Burgers, but food companies (including meat companies) have been introducing meatless alternatives to bacon, sausages, ground beef and chicken nuggets at an astonishing pace around the world.

This is good news for anyone seeking to replace these fast-food staples with meat-free products.  (The KFC nuggets and wings, like all Beyond Meat products are derived from plants – in this case, with soy protein, pea protein, rice flour, carrot fiber, yeast extract, vegetable oils, stabilizing agents and seasoning like salt, onion powder and garlic powder.)  However, a healthy, balanced diet is not one based solely on burgers and nuggets.  As dietitians and nutritionists frequently remind us, a whole-foods, plant-based diet, with lots of fresh vegetables, grains and legumes is much healthier. Beyond Burgers, they say, should be an occasional treat.

Nevertheless, the plant-based revolution that appears to be taking place in the fast-food industry should be welcomed.  It’s that industry that is supplied by factory farms, where billions of animals are confined to a life of suffering before going to slaughter. Every plant-based KFC nugget that replaces a meat nugget means fewer chickens will need to be slaughtered.

For more information on switching to a plant-based diet, visit our Plant-Based Plates page.

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animal welfare compassion cruelty ethics News/Blog

“we love what we do” – Excelsior Hog Farm Case Re-Opens

Photos from Meat the Victims

Back in April animal advocates released hidden camera footage from Excelsior Hog Farm in Abbotsford revealing sick, dead, and dying pigs. Some pigs can be seen to have abnormal growths and mobility issues. As this footage was released anonymously and without timestamps or indications as to the location being filmed, the BC SPCA was not able to bring charges forward, despite the video evidence suggesting a high level of suffering along with unsuitable conditions and improper monitoring for illness and injury.

Less than a week after the video’s release, dozens of animal advocates ventured to Excelsior to stage an occupation of the property, Canada’s first #MeatTheVictims event. Locked in with the pigs, the advocates began broadcasting and posting to social media, with live video and photos inundating Facebook and Twitter timelines. During the day of the occupation, friends of the farm came to show their support while several media outlets were eventually brought through the farm by the owners for a tour. One activist was arrested for break and enter as well as mischief. Many farmers and individuals spoke out against the animal advocates and defended the farm and the family who owns and operates it (the patriarch also happens to be a board member of BC Pork).

Now, months later, a second hidden camera video was released (and since removed from YouTube). This video showed
the owners of the farm kicking and mishandling pigs, castrating piglets without pain management, as well as showing pigs being shocked on their faces with electric prods. The person behind the camera has since come forward to the BC SPCA, who have re-opened the cruelty case against Excelsior.

It’s important to remember the “friends of the farm,” and many of those who have defended Excelsior, have ties to the animal agriculture industry. What you or I see as inhumane may be considered standard operating procedure in the eyes of a farmer, as many claimed after the release of the first video. While our Society does not approve of farming animals in principle, we nevertheless expect those who live and work with non-human animals to meet a certain standard of care, and what’s been shown in the two videos released is far from anything resembling care for these animals. We will continue to follow this story.

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animal welfare compassion cruelty ethics News/Blog rodeo

Rodeo Recap: Calgary Stampede 2019

In case you missed it, here’s our recap of this year’s Stampede:

Six chuckwagon horses died during this year’s 10-day Calgary Stampede, with five dying or being euthanized as a result of injury, and one horse being euthanized for an “unrelated medical issue.”

 

This brings the total number of non-human casualties to 102 since 1986 (PDF), with almost 70 of those animals being chuckwagon horses. (Two humans have died either during chuckwagon races or as a result of injuries sustained during a race.)

a steer is killed in competition

Leading up to and during the Stampede we called on compassionate Canadians to contact the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association to voice their concerns surrounding the use of animals in rodeo, with over 6000 individuals joining our campaign.

 

Following this year’s stampede the CBC have visualized the data we have collected since 1986, meaning you can easily see the deaths by year or by event

Now, as the dust settles, and Stampede officials begin reviewing chuckwagon racing, you have an opportunity to be heard. We are urging everyone to contact both the Stampede and the CVMA through our website to let them know that these races are not safe and must be drastically changed through consultation with impartial experts or banned altogether.

Want to do more? You can donate online to our rodeo campaign and receive an immediate tax receipt thanks to Canada Helps. Not only that, but a generous donor is MATCHING all donations up to $10,000, so your donation will be doubled for a limited time!

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You can become a Humane Hero!

You have the opportunity to be part of a special group of animal heroes who, through regular monthly gifts, help Vancouver Humane access stable, long-term funding for animals in need. Monthly donations are a simple, cost-effective way to make regular contributions in support of our work to expose animal abuse and assist individuals, businesses and governments to end animal suffering, cruelty and exploitation.

Here are some of the benefits of monthly giving:

It’s affordable

You can contribute with a customizable monthly payment that suits you. Monthly giving is easy and convenient for you. Your gift will be automatically made through your bank account or credit card or online through Canada Helps.

It’s flexible

Monthly gifts are easy to change, cancel, or temporarily suspend if your situation changes.

You’re helping the environment

Donating on a monthly basis is better for the environment as it reduces the amount of mail sent to and from you and VHS. You will receive a consolidated tax receipt for your gifts at the end of every year.

Most importantly, it’s effective!

By lowering the administration costs, more of your donation goes directly towards helping animals. Your monthly donation gives us the ability to plan ahead for the future as well as helping animals today. As a monthly donor, you can choose to direct your donations to a specific campaign such as Go Veg, Rodeo or our McVitie Fund, which helps sick or injured animals in need, or you can donate to our general fund and your gift will provide support where the need is greatest.

You can become a monthly donor online through Canada Helps. Simply click here to be redirected to our page.

To become a monthly donor by credit card or direct debit, please email claire@vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca or call the office at 604-266-9744.

Thank you for helping us help the animals that need us most!

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animal welfare compassion Donate fundraising News/Blog Uncategorized

McVitie Fund success!

We are so grateful to all of our supporters for donating to the McVitie Fund over the past year. Thanks to your support we raised a total of $20,409 which we’re delighted to say has been matched by a generous anonymous donor! That means we’ve received a total of $40,818 to help sick and injured animals in need.  

On average, our veterinary bills amount to over $40,000 per year and as we receive no government funding, we really do rely on our generous donors.

Thanks to our supporters, in the past year alone we have helped over 70 animals in need. Animals like Millie, a seven-year-old female tabby, who was diagnosed with cancer and required surgery to remove one of her ears. 

Milly’s guardian reached out to us for financial assistance and thanks to the money raised through our McVitie Fund, we were able to help. Milly’s operation went well and she is now in recovery. 

We receive several phone calls a week from worried guardians asking us for financial help. Unfortunately there are very few options available for low-income guardians in emergencies, that’s where our McVitie Fund comes in. The McVitie Fund aims to keep beloved animals in their forever home instead of being surrendered to over-burdened shelters or unnecessarily euthanized.

We’re so pleased to announce that our generous anonymous donor has agreed again to match all donations, up to a total of $25,000, received towards the McVitie Fund from May 1st 2019 – April 30th 2020. Please help save a life today by contributing to the McVitie Fund!

You can donate to help animals and your donation will be doubled through our challenge grant!

On behalf of animals like Brandy, thank you!
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animal welfare compassion cruelty Cruelty-free ethics News/Blog Promoted rodeo

Calgary Stampede vet says pressure from VHS affects “how seriously” it takes animal welfare

Calf-roping at the Calgary Stampede. Photo: Jo-Anne McArthur

First time a Stampede official has acknowledged campaign’s impact

The Calgary Stampede’s chief veterinarian has admitted that pressure from the Vancouver Humane Society affects how seriously the Stampede takes animal welfare.

The admission, buried in a news story in the Calgary Herald, was part of an interview with Greg Evans, a veterinarian employed by the Stampede.

The story states: “Evans said pressure from the Vancouver Humane Society, which openly calls for an end to all animal competition and entertainment at the Stampede, plays a role in how seriously both the Calgary Humane Society and the Stampede take animal welfare.”

This is the first time a Stampede official has acknowledged that Vancouver Humane’s anti-rodeo campaigns have had an impact on the Stampede’s sensitivity to animal welfare concerns.

Under this pressure, the Stampede made a number of rule changes in 2011 and 2016 to the rodeo and chuckwagon races. However, the changes do not affect the fundamental cruelty involved in the rodeo and horses have continued to die in the chuckwagon races. The Stampede needs to eliminate cruel rodeo events such as calf-roping and steer-wrestling and they should suspend the chuckwagon race until independent equine experts can determine whether it can be made safe for horses.

While the Stampede’s rule changes do not go far enough, the admission that it feels under pressure concerning animal welfare shows the importance of public opinion. We hope compassionate Canadians will continue to support our campaign against animal cruelty at the Stampede. We aim to draw attention to this issue at this year’s Stampede (July 5-14).

Let’s continue to hold the Stampede to account. Your support makes a difference and your donations will help us keep up the fight to end rodeo animal suffering.

Thank you!