Animal rights activists are speaking out about Canada's practice of air-shipping horses from Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg airports to Japan for human consumption, and Canadian celebrities Jann Arden and Dan Levy are encouraging people to sign a petition against it.

The petition, addressed to the House of Commons and created by the Canadian Horse Defence Coalition and Arden, explains that large draft horses over 17 hands-high are being shipped from these airports, with three to four horses loaded into crates smaller than a single horse stall.

Please help us. Sign the petition. https://t.co/3VEevEuKbJ https://t.co/9lKSJ0TQ4c

— jann arden (@jannarden) March 14, 2021

Flights can last as long as 13.5 hours, according to the petition, with additional hours for ground transportation and the loading/unloading process — during which time horses have no access to food, water or rest.

"Deaths and injuries occur on these flights, as well as broken crates and one known incident of damage to aircraft fuselage," reads the petition. "Horses air-shipped to Japan for human consumption are usually purpose-bred in Canada."

It explains that scientific evidence shows horses suffer both physically and psychologically during long-distance transport, and that Canadian animal welfare laws have no jurisdiction over the treatment of these horses when they reach Japan.

Feb 23/21- Last night trucks were observed arriving at the #Calgary airport carrying more #horses destined for #slaughter in #Japan. They were loaded into wood crates where they stayed overnight & loaded aboard Korean Air cargo today at 3:33 a.m. @defendhorsescan @jannarden pic.twitter.com/9NlbCebxXk

— CHDC (@defendhorsescan) February 23, 2021

"Public awareness about this issue is increasing, with media interest and celebrity involvement," it states. 

Arden, who is a well-known singer-songwriter and actress as well as an outspoken animal rights activist, has been posting about the issue on social media and encouraging Canadians to sign the petition — which surpassed 28,000 signatures as of March 14. 

Some animal lovers located outside the country have also been asking how they can take action, and Arden pointed them in the direction of the international version of the petition on the CHDC website.

If you’re not Canadian- you’re still able to sign an international petition on the link below.... please help us end live horse export world wide https://t.co/7GmHwOnajm

— jann arden (@jannarden) March 14, 2021

Levy, who has long championed animal rescues after adopting his adorable dog Redmond, retweeted Arden's post linking to the international petition — effectively throwing his support behind the cause and encouraging others to do the same.

Thinking of getting a pet? PLEASE consider adopting from a shelter. I rescued Redmond six years ago. Life. Changed. #ClearTheShelters pic.twitter.com/V70sdvgs6o

— dan levy (@danjlevy) August 19, 2017

In a 2019 Nanos poll about the practice, 69 per cent of Canadian respondents said they were opposed to the slaughter of horses for human consumption while nearly seven in ten said they would support stopping the slaughtering of horses in Canada for human consumption rather than continue the policy.