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Animal law gets more bite

Manitoba boosts fines and jail time for cases of abuse

By: Bruce Owen

Posted: 09/21/2010 7:53 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

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Farm animals cannot be transported if they aren’t healthy. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES)

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The law targets unethical breeders whose animals live in filth. (MIKE APORIUS / FREE PRESS ARCHIVES)

Penalties under the new rules:

Maximum fines for animal care offences are raised 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 is increased to 12 months from six months for a second offence.

The act also gives the courts the power to ban a person convicted of an offence from owning or caring for animals for life.

TO backyard puppy-mill operators and to truckers who turn a blind eye to the mistreatment of livestock -- look out.

Manitoba's rules on animal treatment just got a lot tougher as the Animal Care Amendment Act came into effect Monday.

With it comes doubled-up jail time and fines, plus the legal authority to ban pet ownership for life.

The new rules are in part a response to a Free Press exposé two years ago that reported poor conditions in some dog-breeding operations.

The new regulations also bring in licensing requirements for larger breeders of animals such as dogs and cats, and pet stores, as well as more frequent inspections of kennel operations.

A breeder is defined as someone who has five or more intact female animals. Licensing is intended to better protect consumers who previously had little recourse after they bought a sick pet and were saddled with expensive vet bills.

"We expanded our powers to include the unlicenced entities out there," Agriculture Minister Stan Struthers said Monday.

"They've been part of the consultation all the way through this. They know that when the proclamation takes place... that's the new world in which they live."

The new rules give animal-protection officers more power to take immediate action to prevent harm or to seize animals they consider to be abused or abandoned.

Veterinarians also have an expanded role. They're required to report suspected cases of animal abuse or neglect. They will be protected from liability if they file a report.

Struthers also said the law protects farm animals from neglect or abuse in addition to federal rules already in place. It prohibits the loading and transportation of animals that are not fit for transport, and prohibits the acceptance for commercial trade of livestock that are not fit for transport at sites such as auction markets and shipment yards.

Winnipeg Humane Society executive director Bill McDonald said the lifetime ban on pet ownership gives investigators the upper hand when it comes to people who hoard animals.

"We have situations pertaining to hoarding where we've gone as much as three times to the same place to shut these people down," he said. "Hopefully, these amendments will have some teeth."

McDonald said the changes will gradually weed out puppy mills -- the breeders who give legitimate breeders a bad name.

"We've already experienced -- twice -- breeders, particularly with small breeds, coming to us and surrendering their animals. One had just over 70 small-breed dogs and another one just under 50. They are going to be paying attention to this act. This is an example of them getting out of business."

The changes mean the humane society must get a licence and be inspected -- the first time it has received such scrutiny, he added.

"This is new for us. We welcome it. Come in, go in to any corner of our operation. I don't have a problem with it."

Struthers also said the office of the chief veterinarian has been expanded by three staff members to help enforce the new act.

The new positions include a companion animal welfare veterinarian, an animal welfare investigator and an animal welfare program (licensing) co-ordinator.

bruce.owen@freepress.mb.ca

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