Canadians Give a Thumbs Up to the Protect Seals Campaign




Since The HSUS began a campaign to ban the Canadian seal hunt, there has been a chorus of approval from citizens of Canada. Here's a sampling of e-mails from Canadians to The HSUS.



I want to thank you for the tremendous advocacy work you have done to protest the Canadian seal hunt. Your organization is involved in a courageous and just undertaking by coming to Canada to expose this brutal and evil crime for the world. As emotionally and psychically painful this trip will be, it is only this first-hand evidence which will harden decent people everywhere against this atrocity. I hope that HSUS-inspired boycotts on Canadian seafood and a resolution from the U.S. Senate urging the hunt's end will convince this government to shut down the seal hunt.

—J. M. Berkeley, Windsor, Ontario, March 28, 2005

You will find this hard to believe, but I, and everyone I asked, did not know the seal hunt was still happening here. The media is virtually silent. Put full page ads in the Toronto newspapers and just see what happens. Tell the general public and they will respond. I have individually e-mailed all 307 members of Parliament, something that took me over 8 hours.

—L. Bayly, Toronto, Ontario, March 25, 2005

I have just recently read a few articles regarding killing seals. I am totally against this. I am totally against the killing of any wildlife or mammal. I think it is absolutely horrible and brings tears to my eyes when I hear or see anything to do with this. This must be stopped.

—L. Roy, Lethbridge, Alberta, March 23, 2005

I was born and raised in Canada many years ago. I can't believe that Canada still continues to slaughter baby seals. SHAME ON CANADA. This is something that has to stop. It also makes Canada look bad to other countries that are against this. I was proud to be Canadian at one time, but when you have something like this going on I have to say that I am starting to be embarrassed to say that I am Canadian. I support you people in your efforts to stop this. I have written letters to every person you have mentioned. I also want to thank you for what you are doing.

—L. Fair, Surrey, British Columbia, March 21, 2005

As a Canadian and animal lover, I am appalled that this practice has resurfaced in our country. I have been under the impression that this brutality to the beautiful seals had been stopped many years ago and am terribly disappointed in our government for allowing it to resume. As well as sending my prayers to those of you on the 'front' lines, trying to protect as many as you can, I will be contacting my Member of Parliament to voice my opinion. Thank you for alerting me that this is going on.

—K. Kropinske, Edmonton, Alberta, March 16, 2005

I live in Timmins, Ontario and I just want to applaud you for fighting against this seal hunt. I've already sent a letter to Mr. Williams, premier of Newfoundland. I find this hunt extremely cruel, ignorant and unnecessary. As I'm writing this e-mail, I know that seals are being killed and I just hate it. Thanks again.

—J. Lefebvre, Timmins, Ontario, April 12, 2004

I am aware that fishers are having problems making a living. We humans have over-fished our waters. But people are quite capable of finding incomes without reducing themselves to becoming killers of baby seals.

—D. C. Nicholson, Armstrong, BC

The fact that the government encourages the hunt is more sickening than anything. I encourage the U.S. in their attempts to prevent travel to Canada—maybe then our government will get the message that this behaviour cannot be tolerated.

—L. Mathews, Prince George, B.C.

As a Canadian and animal lover, I am ashamed of the absolute cruel and unusual form of killing the seals off Newfoundland. It really bothers me the way in which these lovable animals are killed, and in many cases are skinned while still alive.

—D. Oliver, Thunder Bay, Ontario

I want to applaud you for fighting against this horrible seal hunt that is taking place currently. I've already written to the premier of the Newfoundland government.

—J. Lefebvre Timmins, Ontario

I am from Ontario, Canada, which is some distance from the hunt, but was sickened knowing what is going on. As a Canadian, I will be honest and tell you that if it hadn't been for the ad in the New York Times, I would never have known about this.

—R.H., Ontario

As a Canadian, I am outraged that our government is sanctioning the annual seal hunt. Be assured that there are many Canadians who do not agree with the seal hunt and are mobilizing against it. Clubbing a seal for any reason is both cruel and barbaric.

—K. Erickson, Calgary, Alberta

I would just like to inform you of how appreciative our family and community are for your stance on the hideous seal hunt. I don't know what is wrong with the government on this issue. They are subsidizing these fishermen most of the year anyway.

— K. Lomack, London Ontario

I cannot believe that the Canadian government deems this as being humane and necessary. We are a civilized society, so I thought, not a barbaric society. You have my utmost support in whatever has to be done to stop the slaughter of seals. I do not believe that the seals are the cause of the depletion of cod.

—C. Clark, Prince George, British Columbia

Many of us in Canada have fought for many painful years to try to stop the hunt. Our government counters with lies and support for a hunt that so many Canadians oppose.

—J. Wood, Scarborough, Ontario

Unlike the United States and the United Kingdom, we still have centuries-old anti-cruelty laws that are very rarely adhered to, and our senate is holding up changing these laws because they are protecting the seal hunters. Thank you for making this an international issue.

—R. Ungaro, Priceville, Ontario

I have fought in my own small way against the seal hunt for 25 years and have never been so discouraged as I have been this last year. Thank you for your support and for giving me hope again.

—D. Potter, St-Laurent, Quebec

Our government doesn't listen to the majority of its citizens on this issue so hopefully it will sit up and take note of your tourism boycott. I will send a donation.

—A. Streeter, Montreal, Quebec

Canadian environmentalists appreciate your efforts to put our government to shame. There will be many defensive responses regarding the economics and welfare of communities that depend on seal pelts, but they'll be from Newfoundlanders, who have overharvested cod and are now looking for another source of income. They have to find one that doesn't exterminate wildlife.

—L. Gary, Toronto, Ontario

At one time, seal hunting might have been a necessity. In 2003, it isn't. Seal skins seem to end up in grungy little souvenir stores as coin purses and trim for combs and wallets. Some companies, I have read, tried to push seal meat in supermarkets. I am dancing on the ceiling to see that someone with clout is doing something about this.

—S. Stone, Toronto, Ontario

As a member of several animal protection organizations, I have written letters to the prime minister and the head of the Department of Fisheries, begging them to stop this outrageous massacre. They make me ashamed to be a Canadian. You, on the other hand, have enraged them by advising tourists to stay away from Canada. My hat's off to you.

—P. Hause, Toronto, Ontario

I am so glad to read the Humane Society of the United States has the guts to encourage others to stick it to Canada where it hurts—in the pocketbook. Keep up the good work.

—K. Woodall, Ottawa, Ontario

Ours is a most unresponsive regime when it comes to the feelings of its own citizens, but I'm hoping that an international campaign might shame them into doing the right thing where the seal hunt is concerned.

—C. Klassen, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Once Canadians feel they are seen as cruel and barbaric, they may exert the necessary pressure to stop this madness. You should note that it is mainly the people of Newfoundland who promote the slaughter. Once they decimated their fish stocks, they started looking for other things to profit from. And the seals were perfect because they could be painted as scapegoats for their overfishing.

—P. Logan, Ottawa, Ontario

The problem, as I see it, is that now that the cod fish is almost extinct, the government wishes to give employment to coastal communities with increased seal hunting—a completely crude and unimaginative solution to the problem of unemployment. The question to be asked is what happens when the seal population decreases again?

—N. Brady, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

You have my utmost support in whatever has to be done to stop the slaughter of seals. I do not believe that the seals are the cause of the depletion of cod. I have told as many people as possible about the seal hunt and have asked them to send their letters of support.

—C. Clark, Prince George, British Columbia

I have never been so disgusted and embarrassed by my country.... The fact that the government encourages the hunt is more sickening than anything.... I encourage the U.S. in their attempts to prevent travel to Canada—maybe then our government will get the message.... I give the United States full support in their efforts to stand up for these helpless mammals. Please do whatever you can to save them.

—L. Mathews, Prince George, British Columbia