Regional News
November 27, 2008 08:41 PM
Teresa Latchford
Ontario is the toughest when it comes to animal cruelty laws in Canada.
The province’s bill C-50 amends the Ontario SPCA Act, making it a provincial offence to cause distress to an animal, leading to stiffer penalties for offenders.
“The new law mends many of the loopholes in the Ontario SPCA Act,” CEO Kate McDonald said.
“We are pleased with the support we have received from the government and their recognition to the importance of animal welfare across this province.”
Those charged under the act face jail terms and fines of up to $60,000 and could be banned from owning an animal for life.
The changes also give inspection rights at facilities where animals are kept for sale or exhibit, bans animal fighting and allows the society to apply for custody of an animal victim while their case is still in court, instead of having to return the animal until the court case is closed.
“This new legislation will allow us to be proactive and provide more education to animal owners, rather than simply reactive to cruelty reports,” chief Ontario SPCA inspector Hugh Coghill said.
The organization responds to about 15,000 allegations of cruelty annually while caring for and sheltering tens of thousands of animals that have been neglected, abused or abandoned.
To report animal cruelty, contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722 or visit
www.ontariospca.ca