A provincial veterinarian says proposed changes to the Saskatchewan Animal Protection Act will make the enforcement of animal welfare regulations more effective.
“Changes were necessary to update the act and make it comply with standard search and seizure and constitutional law,” said LeeAnn Forsythe, a veterinarian with the province’s animal health and food safety unit.
She said the old law was drafted more than 30 years ago and needed improvements. The province is expected to pass the act in early November.
She said the new regulations give animal protection officers greater powers when charging offenders.
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“In the past, the Animal Protection Act didn’t have charging capacity,” she said.
“They only had fines for contravention of regulations, but not for cruelty to animals. So this is pretty major that the Animal Protection Act could be now used for charging, whereas before the criminal code was always used.”
First-time offenders face stronger penalties, which include a maximum $5,000 fine, a maximum three-month jail sentence, or both.
But Forsythe said charges are rare, adding that animal welfare is mostly a matter of education.
“In the majority of the cases, it’s more or less talking to the owner and it may be something that could be corrected right away.”
Rural complaints
The act covers both companion animals and farm animals. The most common farm complaints concern livestock, Forsythe said.
“There might be a report where the people might say that they see thin cattle in the pasture,” she said.
“The animal protection officer would need to investigate that, gather evidence, phone people and drive by.”
Many complaints are unfounded, but Forsythe said all are investigated and taken seriously.
She said protection officers who have to go onto farm property to issue charges will require a warrant and will usually be accompanied by an RCMP officer.
The Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals receives about 380 complaints a year about animals being neglected or abused.
“Half of that roughly would be for livestock,” said SPCA executive director Frances Wach, a member of the committee that developed the act’s regulations.
She said the protection officers’ increased powers are a step in the right direction.
The new act will require officers to take formal investigation training with the RCMP. Wach said the improved training will help them exercise good judgment.
The act will also include codes of practice for animal care, which includes requirements for feeding and housing various farm animals.
“What it has done, is it has modernized our legislation and I think it’s going to make it easier to look after animals that are in distress,” Wach said.
