Protecting our pets
The images are horrific and the details beyond disturbing. In Scotsburn, N.S., a man has been handed a lifetime ban on owning domestic animals after two dogs were seized, and a third animal in the residence was found dead. The SPCA found there was no adequate shelter, water was frozen and no food available. The SPCA posted disturbing photos on Facebook.
In Darlington, P.E.I., animal protection officers seized all remaining breeding dogs from a farm which humane society officials described as a puppy mill. Discussions are underway with RCMP to launch a criminal investigation. In Summerside, a woman pleaded guilty to willfully causing unnecessary pain and suffering to two dogs which were later euthanized.
In Woodstock, N.B., there are calls for a long jail sentence for a local man who pleaded guilty to leaving his dog to die without food for more than two months. An online petition calling for a maximum sentence had 47,000 signatures demanding 18 months in jail, a demand supported by an N.B. political party.
In Newfoundland and Labrador, three abandoned kittens are recovering after being found in a snowbank near Deer Lake. The kittens were rescued by a passing truck driver and were described as lethargic and traumatized. It’s believed they were thrown from a vehicle.
And these are all very recent cases — in just the past several weeks. The cases suggest current laws are too lenient if owners think they can abuse their pets with little repercussion or accountability. As one judge said in sentencing, owners have to realize that owning a pet comes with obligations and if owners can’t meet them, there are options much more satisfactory than neglect or abuse.
These cases are occurring in a region given high marks for animal protection laws. A recent report suggested P.E.I. leads the nation in such laws, with N.S. and N.B in the top four, and N.L. in the middle of the pack. Apparently, present laws are not tough enough if such disturbing events keep happening. These cases seem to get more attention around the holidays. Some animal protection groups now say that adopting a pet as a Christmas gift is perfectly OK as data suggests that people who adopt from shelters during the holidays tend to keep them. It runs opposite to other rescue organizations which refuse to handle adoptions over the holidays as they consider Christmas pets an impulsive action; where the novelty and interest often wears off after a few weeks.
Despite the Island’s lofty ranking, the P.E.I. Humane Society notes that in 2018, it investigated over 600 cases of abuse, more than double the cases in 2017. If this is happening in a province with strong pet protection laws, what’s happening elsewhere in the region?
There is always room for improvement and based on these recent disturbing cases, Atlantic Canadians should push for stronger laws protecting animals. A pet doesn’t deserve to be mistreated and such an owner doesn’t deserve to own a pet.