Press release — for immediate release
The Montreal SPCA calls for stricter oversight of the sled dog industry
The organization reacts to the cases of Expédition Mi-Loup and Chenil La Poursuite
Montreal, November 7, 2024 — Following serious cases of animal neglect and cruelty in the sled dog industry that have been exposed in the media in recent months, in particular those related to the convictions of Expédition Mi-Loup and Chenil La Poursuite, the Montreal SPCA is launching a petition calling on the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) to impose stricter oversight of this industry in order to protect the thousands of dogs it uses, and to ensure that such cases never recur in Quebec.
An industry that is not specifically regulated
Dog sledding is a popular winter pastime in Quebec, especially among tourists. There are over 130 facilities in the province, in which at least 5,000 dogs are put to work.
“Despite its size and the significant risk it entails for animal welfare, the sled dog industry is not subject to any specific oversight in Quebec, unlike in British Columbia, for example”, explains Sophie Gaillard, Director of Animal Advocacy and Legal and Government Affairs at the Montreal SPCA. “The Montreal SPCA is therefore calling on the ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) to put in place a regulatory framework specific to this industry, including mandatory standards and strict enforcement of these standards,” she adds.
Serious animal welfare issues
In the sled dog industry, most dogs spend almost their entire lives tethered to the end of a chain. Deprived of the opportunity to move freely and socialize normally, dogs kept tethered can develop severe frustration and even psychological distress, eventually leading to the development of stereotypical behaviours or compulsive disorders.
Few dogs in this industry are spayed or neutered, which leads to unwanted litters, sometimes resulting in the killing of puppies. Nearly 30 sled dog facilities in Quebec have more than 50 dogs each, and some have as many as 200. Such overcrowding makes it impossible to provide each animal with the care and attention they require, thus increasing the risk of neglect.
Furthermore, true retirement programs for older dogs, or those unfit to pull a sled, are rare in this industry; such dogs are usually killed or die of old age at the end of their chain.
Beyond the incidents of animal cruelty and offences under the law that have made the headlines in recent months, the standard practices of the sled dog industry are problematic. Thousands of pages of documents obtained through access to information requests and reviewed by the Montreal SPCA demonstrate the inadequate – yet legal –living conditions of sled dogs in Quebec.
“A tethered female dog shows signs of illness, she cowers, she doesn’t want to move, her eyes are blank […]. The dog’s gait is unsteady, she seems very weak. […] She apparently gave birth to 6 puppies last Saturday (August 12, 2023) and decapitated them the following day.” – Excerpt from a MAPAQ inspection report (2023) [our translation from French]
Read further excerpts of MAPAQ inspection reports
Stricter regulatory framework
The Montreal SPCA urges the provincial government to impose animal welfare standards specific to the sled dog industry, including:
- Prohibition of tethering as the primary housing method;
- Mandatory sterilization of dogs not intended for breeding;
- A maximum of 50 dogs per facility;
- Requirement to put in place a retirement program for older dogs or dogs unfit to work, as well as a complete life-cycle plan for each dog.
For more details about the Montreal SPCA’s recommendations, click here.
The organization invites the public to sign its petition to the government to better protect sled dogs
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Source: Montreal SPCA www.spca.com/en/
Media information:
Tök communications 514-247-0526
Marie-Hélène Avon, mariehelene@tokcommunications.ca
About the Montreal SPCA
Founded in Montreal in 1869, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (now known simply as the Montreal SPCA) was the first animal welfare organization in Canada. The SPCA has come a long way since: it is now the largest animal welfare organization in Quebec and speaks on behalf of animals wherever there is ignorance, cruelty, exploitation or neglect.
