Damn it - Bill S-203

Things have got to change… Is human race regressing?

I find it quite embarrassing. There has been animal cruelty since the dawn of man. Enough is enough. Aren’t we a civilized society? So many of us have little furry companions; one would think that it is time society and politicians work together to make a better tomorrow for our buddies. Where has respect for life gone? This is why Canadian Politics pisses me right off. The UK has some of the strongest laws against animal cruelty and even our fellow Americans are way ahead of us. What the F*ck is going on up here? I recently forwarded a petition to my friends; a list of close to 400 email addresses. Lots of them responded. I was totally pumped until I got an email from NDP explaining the following:

On April 9th, 189 MPs voted in favour of passing Bill S-203 despite strong opposition from every animal welfare group in the country. This weak and ineffective bill retains all of the loopholes in our century-old law, allowing most animal abusers to slip through the cracks unpunished. While the bill establishes stiffer penalties, it will not address the fact that less than 1% of animal cruelty investigations result in a conviction under the Criminal Code.

Needless to say I was more than disappointed. I was hurt. I took a look at my 2 cats and couldn’t imagine someone hurting them. That would be unbearable and I think I could become aggressive myself. I kicked somebody out of my house once for pushing my dog with his foot. Even thought my dog wasn’t harmed, it literally angered me like there’s no tomorrow. I’m very passionate when it comes to animals; sometimes even more than for humans.

Here’s one case amongst hundreds of them why we have got to do something:

Animal cruelty provincial offense charges pending on puppy mill case in Bancroft-area

Newmarket, ON, (April 7, 200 - Provincial offence charges are pending in a suspected puppy mill case, involving a Bancroft-area resident. 166 dogs of various mixed small breeds, including: poodles, pekinese, terriers and beagles were seized on April 2, 2008.

A search warrant was obtained as a result of an ongoing animal welfare investigation. The Ontario SPCA has been receiving complaints regarding this resident for 12 years. During that time, many orders have been issued and the resident has complied with said orders. Some animals have been seized over the years, but returned as a result of compliance. The Ontario SPCA executed the search warrant in the company of a veterinarian and the OPP.
Upon inspection of the residence, the animals were found to be in very poor condition, some suffering from dehydration, anemia, lethargy and parasites. Some required immediate medical intervention and were removed to a local veterinary clinic for treatment. Additional medical tests are being performed. The facility also lacked proper ventilation and had extremely poor sanitation. The investigative team was unable to enter the facility without proper protection due to the lack of ventilation. The animals were also wading in liquid feces.

Thanks to the Ontario SPCA’s network of over 50 shelters across the province; the animals have been placed in York Region, Napanee, Brockville, Bellville, Renfrew, Kingston, St Catherines and others. The investigation has been a collaborative effort between many Branches and Affiliates, both in the seizure and placement of the animals.

Provincial offense charges under the current Ontario SPCA Act are pending. It is likely that the Animal Care Review Board, a voluntary committee set up by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, will determine the fate of the animals. If the seizure is determined to be justified, the accused may be required to surrender the animals who will then be available for adoption. If convicted, the accused may face up to two years in jail and a fine of $60,000.

About Puppy Mills

Puppy mills and kitten mills are a concern because of the mass numbers of animals involved and the degree of cruelty that these animals are subjected to through filthy living conditions, malnutrition, mass breeding and lack of veterinary care.

Mills are not reputable breeders. They are profit driven, clandestine operations that are not concerned with the welfare of the animals. Many mills are located in remote, rural areas, where their activities can be more easily hidden. Mill operators manipulate an unknowing public who think that they are buying animals from reputable breeders.

To report animal cruelty, please contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722 or visit www.ontariospca.ca to learn more about critical animal welfare issues.

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Let’s keep on putting pressure for the government to do something about it. Click on the link below and find out whether your MP voted for or against the bill. If your MP voted in favour of passing Bill S-203, send them a nice note to let them know how much you are disappointed.

http://www.wspa.ca/index.asp