Protection for all animals
Since 1869, the Montreal SPCA has been a key political player contributing to societal progress in terms of animal protection in Quebec and Canada. Our deep commitment to protecting animals of all species is a defining characteristic of our organization. In fact, we are by far the most active and influential animal advocacy organization in Quebec.
This vital work is carried out by our Animal Advocacy department, which is responsible for the Montreal SPCA’s efforts to strengthen legislation and public polices to better protect animals. The team’s mission is to represent and further animals’ interests in the legal and political systems. They achieve this mission by participating in consultations on bills, regulations and codes of practice relating to animal welfare. The team also conducts public awareness campaigns on animal protection issues, while rallying public support for the cause.
The Montreal SPCA’s Animal Advocacy team has fought time and time again to bolster animal protection and has played an instrumental role in securing significant victories for animals in Quebec.
Support our mission by donating today and, together, let’s make the world a better place for animals.
Take action!
Listen to the Montreal SPCA podcast*
We love our cats and dogs… But are we just as concerned about the plight of other animals? Are there enough laws protecting them? Do we have any moral obligation to protect them?
* in French only
Our recent victories
Our decisive actions to protect animals
- Introduction of a provincial bill to ban no-pet clauses in residential leases in response to our ongoing efforts to have these clauses invalidated (2023)
- Launch of a provincial campaign demanding that the government regulate the living conditions of animals raised for food (2023)
- Creation of Quebec’s first animal protection podcast (2023)
- Being granted intervenor status in the Longueuil deer cull case in order to submit to Quebec courts arguments related to responsible wildlife management and the implications of recognizing animal sentience in law (2022-2023)
- Launch of a pilot project allowing leashed dogs on the Montreal metro system following our Fido on the Metro campaign (2022)
- Provincial ban on gas chambers as well as cat declawing and other non-therapeutic surgeries performed on companion animals as a consequence of our lobbying and public campaign efforts (2022)
- Organization of the first-ever federal (2021), municipal (2021) and provincial (2022) animal protection electoral debates
- Ban on horse-drawn carriages and the enactment of the most progressive animal bylaw in the entire province following our lobbying efforts directed at the City of Montreal (2018)
- Successful fight against breed-specific legislation at both the municipal (City of Montreal) and provincial levels, including taking legal action against the City of Montreal, intense lobbying efforts at both levels of government, as well as public awareness campaigns (2016-2018)
- Adoption of a new provision in the Civil Code of Québec recognizing animals as sentient beings (art. 898.1) as well as the adoption of the Animal Welfare and Safety Act, Quebec’s first provincial law entirely devoted to animal protection, in response to our Animals Are Not Things campaign (2015)
View the recent animal advocacy work accomplished by the Montreal SPCA:
Resources
Our news
