The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is providing an update on animal welfare concerns locally and across the province.
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) had been enforcing animal cruelty and welfare laws for Ontario since 1919. However, in January 2019, the Ontario Superior Court ruled that policing powers given to OSPCA are unconstitutional because it allows a private agency to enforce public laws without accountability or transparency.
As a result, OSPCA handed over the reins to the province. For the interim period of June 29, 2019 to December 31, 2019, a temporary animal protection was created by the province as it transitions to a new system.
While many Ontario cities and municipalities have felt scrambled to deal with the OSPCA no longer enforcing animal cruelty laws, a new report by municipal staff states that Chatham-Kent had a fairly smooth transition.
"Although many municipalities across the province have felt the effects of the OSPCA no longer providing cruelty services that is not the same for Chatham-Kent. Sarnia Humane has been providing cruelty services for Chatham-Kent since January 2018 and continues to do so," the report read.
According to the report, Sarnia Humane’s officers are agents with the OSPCA and peace officers with the province that can enforce animal cruelty legislation as it pertains to the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Criminal Code of Canada. Currently, Sarnia Humane has the authority and resources to investigate and enforce the Act including cases involving livestock.
"The Municipality’s contractor, Pet and Wildlife Rescue (PAWR) has responded to a number of animal welfare matters," states the report. "However, PAWR has continued to rely upon Sarnia Humane for the redirection or escalation of animal cruelty matters."
Sarnia Humane reported that from Janurary 1,2019 to June 25, 2019 there were 88 animal welfare calls in Chatham-Kent. A total of 11 orders were given and one charge with for counts. Of those calls, 50 were justified, 28 were false and 10 were unfounded.
The 2019 Calls involved the following animals:
•Dogs – 75 •Cats – 15 •Equine – 2 •Cattle – 1 •Rabbits- 2 •Water Fowl- 1 •Hedgehog- 1 •Snakes- 1
According to the report, a new provincial animal protection model is set to be announced in 2020. In the meantime, the province has put measures in place to ensure its interim model is keeping animals safe including creating a new toll-free number to report any animal welfare concerns and appointing an OPP inspector as a temporary chief inspector to provide provincial animal protection leadership.
