Did you know that April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Awareness month?

Animal rights are protected Federally and Provincially in Ontario.

Canada’s Criminal Code and Animal Welfare

Animal welfare and rights in Canada is about the laws concerning and treatment of animals in Canada. The World Animal Protection Organization considered Canada to have weak animal welfare protections in the past.

Canada’s Criminal Code prohibits causing “unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or bird” and “causing damage or injury by wilful neglect”.

Thankfully, in June 2019, the Canadian Federal Government passed a law Bill C-84 which amends the Criminal Code pertaining to Bestiality and Animal Fighting.

Anyone convicted of bestiality in Canada will now be added to Canada’s National Sex Offenders Registry and can be banned from owning animals. Many studies have proven a clear link between animal abuse and child abuse, so adding convicted animal abusers to the National Sex Offenders Registry protects children as well as animals.

How does Bill C-84 Protect against Animal Fighting?

The new law now prohibits promoting or profiting from fighting or baiting animals, as well as breeding or training animals to fight. This law also prohibits the building or maintaining of any arena established for the purpose of animal fighting. The law applies to anyone who “in any manner encourages, aids, promotes, arranges, assists, receives money for or takes part in the fighting or baiting of animals”.

There has been a growing trend of animal fighting covertly and online. It is often linked to guns and gangs.

Other important elements found in Bill C-84

• a Judge can make an order banning an offender from owning or living with an animal for a period of time or a lifetime ban.

• a Judge has the ability to order full financial restitution to a person or organization that cared for the animal which was harmed by the offence

• this law repeals a section of the Criminal Code which previously required a peace officer to seize and destroy any animals found fighting in a cockpit.

Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act

As of January 1, 2020 the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (Paws) Act has replaced the Ontario Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

The PAWS Act outlines the basic standards of care required for all animals including food, water, medical attention, ventilation, light, sanitary conditions, pens/enclosed structures, humane euthanasia and transportation.

Committing an offence under the PAWS Act can result in sentences that may include up to two years in jail, fines up to $130,000. on a first offence or up to $500,000. against a corporation on a first offence and a lifetime ban on animal ownership as well as other penalties.

Who should I call?

1-833-926-4625 - Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre

Call this number if an animal is in distress, neglected or abused.

Local Animal Control - SPCA - 310-7722

Call your local animal control if a wild animal is in distress, injured or deceased, or if a wild or domestic animal is roaming on public property.

911 (Emergency)

Call 911 in an emergency when a life is in immediate danger or distress, such as an animal attack, animal in a hot or cold vehicle, or illegal activity such as dog or cock fighting rings.

Animals can’t speak!

Please report immediately any animal abuse incidents to the Authorities.