The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association is encouraging the federal government to create legislation covering the humane slaughter of animals.
Dr. Trevor Lawson is a member of the Association’s Animal Welfare Committee.
Lawson says the CVMA's position is when farmed animals are killed for food, the methods employed must minimize fear, anxiety, pain, distress and suffering.
"There's no overarching federal law that regulates slaughter from coast to coast," says Lawson. "There are federal plants and there are regulations for those specific plants. However the province's all have provincial abattoirs as well and it's a real patchwork on how those are operated."
Lawson says there is no specific timeline on when they'd like to see changes to legislation covering the slaughter of animals but do believe it is time for change.
