The province’s Animal Care Amendment Act proclaimed today establishes additional regulations for the safety and care of livestock and companion animals while safeguarding those who report offenders, Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives Minister Stan Struthers announced.
“Manitoba is considered a leader on animal welfare in Canada with laws and legal requirements based on high standards of animal care,” said Struthers. “Today our standards are moving even higher as we secure further animal-welfare policies into law to ensure the well-being of animals in our province.”
The minister noted public consultations played an important role in drafting the changes to the Animal Care Act.
The amendments include:
• Expanding licensing regulations that now cover dog and cat breeders to include kennels, breeders of all companion animals and retail pet stores.
• Increasing the maximum fines for animal care offences to $10,000 from $5,000 for a first offence and to $20,000 from $10,000 for a second or subsequent offence. The maximum term of imprisonment will increase to 12 months from six months for a second offence. Also, a person convicted of an offence could be restricted from owning or caring for animals for life.
• Prohibiting the loading and transportation of animals that are not fit to transport and those that cannot be moved without causing suffering.
• Prohibiting the acceptance for commercial trade of animals that are not fit to transport at sites like assembling points, auction markets and shipment yards.
• Protection for operators of commercial sites who report the arrival of unfit animals.
• Protection from liability for veterinarians who report suspected cases of animal neglect or abuse.
• Updating and expanding the authority of animal protection officers, particularly in their ability to take action to prevent harm or seize animals they consider to be in abusive or abandoned situations.
The minister further noted three additional staff have been hired to enhance the services of the office of the chief veterinarian. The positions include a companion animal welfare veterinarian, an animal welfare investigator and an animal welfare program (licensing) co-ordinator.
“Livestock and companion animals depend on people for their care,” said Struthers. “These amendments help to strengthen the laws that ensure appropriate food, shelter and medical attention are part of that care and increase penalties for any mistreatment or neglect.”
