scooter
12-12-2008, 11:20 AM
Animal-cruelty law praised; Province makes it easier to prosecute abusers, humane society says
The head of the local humane society is lauding the province for passing stringent new animal cruelty legislation and calling on the federal government to toughen its laws as well.
"Animals will be safer because it will provide the ability for us to get after and deal with the people who are creating problems for animals," said John Roushorne, executive director of the Windsor and Essex County Humane Society.
"We now have the ability to go after people who mistreat animals generally, dogs, cats, rabbits. Anybody that causes or permits distress to an animal -- whether they intend to or not -- is now subject to prosecution."
The bill, the first overhaul of provincial animal cruelty legislation since 1919, creates a new offence of causing or permitting distress to an animal, which will make it easier for officials to protect animals and prosecute offenders.
The province cited the case of AK, the Windsor puppy who had his ears lopped off, as a driving force behind this change, which Roushorne called the "most significant" plank in the legislation.
BURDEN OF PROOF
Officials were stymied in that case because, under the Criminal Code, they had to prove who harmed AK and that the harm was wilful. They could have been made to return AK to its owner while the legal process unfolded.
Under the new provincial law, proof of harm is sufficient to justify penalties ranging as high as a two-year prison sentence, a $60,000 fine and a lifetime ownership ban.
Officials no longer need a conviction to justify the seizure of an animal, just "reasonable grounds" to believe the animal will be harmed if it is returned to its owner.
The legislation also empowers animal welfare agencies to inspect without a search warrant places where animals are sold, boarded, exhibited or kept for entertainment purposes.
As well, the legislation requires veterinarians to report cases of suspected animal abuse and neglect, protecting them from liability if they do so.
"The only regret I have in this whole thing is that the federal government is still sitting on its hands with the Criminal Code and refusing to acknowledge that animal rights have moved beyond the 18th century," said Roushorne.
Roushorne and other critics have blasted Ottawa's efforts to protect animals, maintaining MPs opted to boost fines for animal cruelty offences without making it any easier to secure a conviction.
PUBLICATION: The Windsor Star
DATE: 2008.11.19
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A3
BYLINE: Donald McArthur
SOURCE: Windsor Star
WORD COUNT: 359
The head of the local humane society is lauding the province for passing stringent new animal cruelty legislation and calling on the federal government to toughen its laws as well.
"Animals will be safer because it will provide the ability for us to get after and deal with the people who are creating problems for animals," said John Roushorne, executive director of the Windsor and Essex County Humane Society.
"We now have the ability to go after people who mistreat animals generally, dogs, cats, rabbits. Anybody that causes or permits distress to an animal -- whether they intend to or not -- is now subject to prosecution."
The bill, the first overhaul of provincial animal cruelty legislation since 1919, creates a new offence of causing or permitting distress to an animal, which will make it easier for officials to protect animals and prosecute offenders.
The province cited the case of AK, the Windsor puppy who had his ears lopped off, as a driving force behind this change, which Roushorne called the "most significant" plank in the legislation.
BURDEN OF PROOF
Officials were stymied in that case because, under the Criminal Code, they had to prove who harmed AK and that the harm was wilful. They could have been made to return AK to its owner while the legal process unfolded.
Under the new provincial law, proof of harm is sufficient to justify penalties ranging as high as a two-year prison sentence, a $60,000 fine and a lifetime ownership ban.
Officials no longer need a conviction to justify the seizure of an animal, just "reasonable grounds" to believe the animal will be harmed if it is returned to its owner.
The legislation also empowers animal welfare agencies to inspect without a search warrant places where animals are sold, boarded, exhibited or kept for entertainment purposes.
As well, the legislation requires veterinarians to report cases of suspected animal abuse and neglect, protecting them from liability if they do so.
"The only regret I have in this whole thing is that the federal government is still sitting on its hands with the Criminal Code and refusing to acknowledge that animal rights have moved beyond the 18th century," said Roushorne.
Roushorne and other critics have blasted Ottawa's efforts to protect animals, maintaining MPs opted to boost fines for animal cruelty offences without making it any easier to secure a conviction.
PUBLICATION: The Windsor Star
DATE: 2008.11.19
EDITION: Final
SECTION: News
PAGE: A3
BYLINE: Donald McArthur
SOURCE: Windsor Star
WORD COUNT: 359