Links:

• CFHS Website

• Advocacy
  

Advocacy Links:

• BC SPCA Advocacy Home Page
  

• The Wildlife Act & Exotic Animals
  

• Farm Animal Transportation
  

• Antifreeze
  

• Criminal Code of Canada
  

• Vehicle Pet Safety
  

• Pets in Rental Housing
  

• United Nations Declaration
  

• Atlantic Seal Hunt

The Canadian Criminal Code & The Bill

Act Now in Support of Good Animal Cruelty Legislation!

The BC SPCA and CFHS urgently need your help!

Canadians must speak out to stop the passage of ineffective, outdated animal cruelty legislation from being passed in our House of Commons.

Bill S-203 is a private member’s bill in the Senate. It has passed the Senate, passed Second Reading in the House and is awaiting debate by the Justice and Human Rights Committee, likely this fall. Bill S-203 makes NO changes to today’s archaic and wholly inadequate offences; it will only increase the penalties. Increased penalties are important, but ultimately meaningless when the offences are so problematic that many cases can’t even be prosecuted.

Bill S-203:

• makes it difficult to prosecute cases of neglect, even when dozens of animals have been starved to death
• allows the training of animals for dog fights, cockfights or other types of animal fighting fight other animals
• permits killing stray or wild animals for no particular reason
• provides extra protection for cattle and other animals and less protection for stray or wild animals
• doesn’t make it a crime to kill animals brutally or viciously
• considers animal cruelty a property offence
• doesn’t offer specific protection for law enforcement animals

Bill C-373 is the answer

C-373, a private member’s bill in the House, would fix all the above problems, as well as increase the penalties. This bill is virtually identical to one that came excruciatingly close to being passed in 2003 when it was supported unanimously in the House of Commons. That bill was also supported by a huge number of animal use industries representing farmers, trappers and scientific researchers, as well as veterinarians, police associations and animal protection groups. Unfortunately, the Senate stood in the way of that bill and then it died when Parliament dissolved.

Animal Industry Groups

Some animal industries are lobbying in favour of Bill S-203 and have convinced many politicians to support it. This support is based on misinformation about how Bill C-373 would apply to animal use industries. Claims have been made that Bill C-373 would make hunting and fishing illegal and would negatively impact farming, scientific research and other lawful activities involving animals.

These claims are simply false. Bill C-373 would offer the same legal protection for lawful uses of animals as the current legislation has done for the past 115 years. The animal cruelty section of the Criminal Code is about criminal, intentional abuse or criminal neglect of animals. It permits animals to be killed and even to be caused pain and suffering in the pursuit of lawful activities. This is what permits farming, hunting, fishing, trapping and scientific research. It does not, however, permit farmers, hunters, trappers and other animal users to cause unnecessary pain and suffering. These people have an obligation to adhere to standard, industry practices for their activity. Bill C-373 would not change any of this.

The good news is that a number of industry groups and politicians have indicated support for both Bill C-373 and Bill S-203.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

WRITE TO YOUR MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT.

Send your letter to your Member of Parliament’s Hill office. Not sure how to reach your MP? Visit www.parl.gc.ca to get his or her name and contact information.

Remember, you don’t need a stamp to send a letter to your MP on Parliament Hill!

ACT QUICKLY! Send your letter today!

For more ideas and information on this issue, visit the Canadian Federation of Humane Society's website here: http://cfhs.ca/law/federal_legislation/