Vets will be required to report suspected abuse
REGINA Animal protection laws in Saskatchewan are getting an update.
Changes include broadening the definition of distress and giving protection officers the ability to inspect more places with a warrant, as well as issue corrective action orders.
Kaley Pugh, executive director of Animal Protective Services in the province, said she was excited by the changes, including one that will require veterinarians to report suspected instances of animal cruelty.
“This will do a lot to improve animal welfare in the province,” she said.
Mandatory reporting of suspected instances of abuse, said Pugh, will support veterinarians when they do need to report something.
“They were worried about the effect on their business prior to this, so that they didn’t want to get in trouble with their clients if they did have something they wanted to report,” she said, adding this added support will protect them from lawsuits.
The Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association (SVMA) requested provisions for mandatory reporting of animal neglect.
“Updating The Animal Protection Act will go a long way in helping ensure the health and welfare of animals across the province,” SVMA president Lesley Sawa said in a statement.
She also had positive things to say about the clearer definition and broadening of distress.
Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart spoke about the expanded responsibilities animal protection officers will receive.
“Society demands more and more protection for animals, and rightfully so,” he said, adding it was time to update the legislation.
Last year, the Animal Legal Defense Fund rated Saskatchewan’s animal welfare laws 11th of 13 provinces and territories in terms of their effectiveness.
The U.S.-based fund promotes animal rights through legal advocacy, the filing of lawsuits and offering free legal assistance to prosecutors in abuse cases.
At the time, the group criticized Saskatchewan for not having protections in place seen in other provinces. That included veterinarians not being required to report suspected cases of animal cruelty and a legal recognition of the psychological harm suffered by animals.
Both those issues, through the mandatory reporting and clearer definition of distress, are being addressed in the changes released Monday.
The province has been no stranger to high-profile cases of animal neglect. The former owner of Playful Paws Pet Centre in Saskatoon pleaded guilty on behalf of the company earlier this year to charges of animal neglect.
He was ordered to pay thousands of dollars in fines and out-of-court settlements after 14 dogs died in a room that reached 37 C because of a malfunctioning thermostat.