Animal Rights

As you know one of my goals was to have 100 plus signatures on a petition regarding animal cruelty laws. This petition came into force when a dog was found abandoned by a river with dumbbells weighted down on her collar. She was found emaciated and near death. A local man was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an animal by failing to provide veterinary treatment, failing to provide suitable and adequate care for an animal and abandoning an animal in distress. The case is still before the courts and unfortunately if he’s found guilty, the man could face up to six months in jail, a fine up to $2,000 and a two-year prohibition on owning animals…….That’s it!!!



A few months’ later 2 German shepherd mix breeds were “found” nearly starved to death. The male could not even stand up and weighed less than 33 pounds (his optimal weight is closer to 66 pounds) and the female was just as malnourished. The people who “found” the animals and “rescued” them were actually the owners of the dogs and have now been charged with 17 combined animal cruelty charges. Again, their case is still before the courts.



(The dogs have since been adopted out and this is a current photo of them)

So those are just a few reasons why I think our legislation needs to be revamped, not to mention that Criminal Code provisions on animal cruelty have changed little since 1892. Just think, when my parents were in school the teachers were allowed to give the strap and other such things. Today that is unheard of because it’s cruel; just as tying weights to an animal near a river or starving them to near death is cruel, rules need to be changed.

The petition I had signed was to “introduce government legislation amending the Criminal Code provisions on animal cruelty based on Bill C-373 and to recommend against Bill S-213.” Essentially Bill S-213 raises the penalties for animal cruelty but that’s about it whereas Bill C-373 changes the language and helps to protect animals more so than the current legislation.

A few examples:

It is currently an offence to kill an owned animal without lawful excuse. However, wild or stray animals can be killed for any reason. Bill S-213 still would not extend any protection to wild/stray animals. Effective legislation makes it an offence to kill any animal without a lawful excuse (lawful excuses include hunting, fishing and farming).

There is also a section for brutal and vicious killing of animals that the current legislation does not address. Several years ago in Edmonton, two men tied a dog to a tree and beat it to death with a baseball bat. A vet testified that the dog died instantly on the first blow therefore the men could not be convicted of causing unnecessary pain and suffering. Under Bill S-213 there would be no change whereas Bill C-373 makes it an offence to kill an animal with brutal or vicious intent whether or not the animal dies immediately.

Scott wanted to know where I stood on animal rights and I believe that all animals should be protected under the law whether they are a stray or a pet. Animals should not be trained for fighting, nor should money exchange hands for such things, it’s barbaric. Tying weights around an animals’ neck and trying to drown it or starving an animal to near death is not OK, it is cruel and stiffer penalties are a must. Lastly, I want to know what the hell type of person would treat another living breathing being with such disregard anyway, animal lover or not???