Animal Cruelty Legislation

            Tiny black specks dotted against the crisp white snow. At least, that’s what they looked like from a distance.

            The reality was a much more horrifying picture: fifteen dogs left to freeze outside in the depths of a Northern Ontario winter. On their way to a certain death were it not for the fateful passing of a man and woman out snowmobiling in the remote area.

            As the couple approached, the picture only got grimmer. The dogs were emaciated. Their bones showed through their matted coats. Three were already dead. No food. No water. No owner to be found.

            We need your help to end these tragic cases of animal cruelty in our country.

            The quick action of one of our member organizations, the Thunder Bay Humane Society, helped save as many of the dogs’ lives as possible. A cruelty team was sent to transfer the dogs into the city. A triage station was set up in the humane society’s board room: they had never seen such a large influx of severely injured and ill animals.

            The dogs were devastatingly sick. Volunteers carried their limp bodies into the shelter. They were a mere one-third of a healthy weight. The injured canines could keep nothing down – even water.

             Thankfully, a vet came quickly. The dogs were given IV fluids and antibiotics in a desperate attempt to keep them alive.

            It was obvious that time was of the essence.

            People say one of the most special bonds exists between a dog and their family. These dogs had clearly suffered greatly at the hands of humans. They shrunk fearfully into the corners of their cages, cowering when anyone came near.

            When police were able to obtain a warrant for the owner’s home, the news only got more heartbreaking: another 22 dogs. Some as young as four months old.

            Cases like this remind us all of how vulnerable animals truly are. They depend on us for their survival and welfare. Sadly, when the humans entrusted with their care let them down, there is little recourse through the legal system.  

            It’s been more than a century since animal cruelty legislation was adequately updated. The landscape of our society has shifted dramatically in the last 125 years, and yet our laws have not evolved accordingly.

            While the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies actively engages in government consultations surrounding the need for increased legal protections, we are also hard at work making the most of the resources currently available within our justice system. Donors like you make these critical efforts possible.

            Did you know more than 100,000 animal cruelty complaints are investigated in Canada each year?

            Only a small segment of these cases are able to be prosecuted, and less than one-tenth of these result in a successful prosecution. Animal abusers can walk free with limited consequences.

            In the case of the more than 30 dogs rescued by the Thunder Bay Humane Society, the owners were prohibited from ever again owning animals, and given a fine of approximately $25,000 to be repaid to the Humane Society.

            These penalties do not reflect the grave seriousness of the crimes animal abusers commit each day. They do not reflect the lives lost or the pain endured by these defenseless creatures. They do not serve as a sufficient deterrent for potential criminals.

            There is so much more to be done.

            Our country’s animal cruelty laws are some of the most outdated in the world which includes outdated language, poorly drafted offences and altogether missing provisions that have created a vacuum in animal protection at the federal level. In response, provincial laws have been updated over the last decade to provide a stop gap measure for federal inadequacies. Prosecutors can choose to charge abusers under these laws over the Criminal Code in order to obtain convictions and this puts the Criminal Code animal cruelty provisions at risk of becoming obsolete thereby weakening the federal legal framework.  This is a critical issue that needs to be rectified in order to ensure perpetrators are charged under the federal legislation and, if convicted, that their criminal record follows them regardless of where they move in Canada. 

            The Thunder Bay Humane Society did incredible work in rehabilitating the rescued dogs – but they were naturally still mistrustful of humans. Six months in, many would still only respond positively to the presence of Humane Society staff. Visitors were a terrifying unknown.

            The scars of their past have faded, but not disappeared. Many of the dogs are still considered a “flight risk” – prone to bolt if given the opportunity. The experience of being tied to a three-foot leash for months on end is imprinted on their souls.

            But while these dogs will live with trauma permanently, the people responsible for their suffering walk free. They have suffered little consequence for their horrendous actions. They have recklessly taken lives, and yet they continue to live theirs in relative peace.

            It’s this kind of inequity that we so desperately need to repair. Our legal system is broken when it comes to the protection of animals… And we need your help to fix it.

            Will you make your critical gift to the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies today? Every dollar makes a difference when it comes to transforming our justice system.

            Your donation enables us to raise our voices to fight for what’s right, to connect change-makers in our communities, and to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable animals coast to coast to coast.

            By giving to CFHS, you are demonstrating your care and concern for animals who have experienced the exact opposite. You are investing in a future where their lives are valued by the legal system. You are helping us to close loopholes that have left defenseless creatures vulnerable for far too long.

            Thank you for doing your part to create a more humane Canada.