Montreal, July 29, 2013 – The Animal Legal Defense Fund (ADLF) has released the 2013 report ranking the Provincial Animal Welfare legislation in Canada. Quebec has once again fallen within the last three places, ranked in second to last place (with the territory of Nunavut falling in dead last). To view the ADLF report, please click here.

Here is the ranking according to ADLF:

According to the report “Quebec continued to enhance its animal protection legislation this year. The province broadened its oversight authority over animal facilities, which can now be ordered to cease their activities for a period of up to sixty days if the animals’ welfare is threatened. It also expanded restrictions on future ownership of animals upon conviction. Most notably, Quebec enacted stiffer penalties, with animal abusers now facing a fine of up to $25,000 for a first offence and up to $75,000 for repeat offenders. Despite having made improvements to its animal protection legislation for two years in a row, Quebec holds its position as the province with the weakest animal protection legislation. It is joined in the bottom tier by Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, which remains the worst jurisdiction in Canada when it comes to animal protection.”

Montreal’s SPCA is disappointed but not surprised to see that Quebec is still lacking in animal protection legislation. “Despite recent amendments in the Quebec animal protection legislation, this report demonstrates that we still have a long way to go in this Province” said Alanna Devine, Director of Animal Advocacy at Montreal’s SPCA. “We hope that these rankings will be a wake-up call that important changes still need to be made to our Provincial legislation including incarceration as a possible sentence, providing protection to a broad range of species and ensuring prohibitions apply to owners/guardians and non-owners alike.”

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Media Contact: Alanna Devine, Director of animal advocacy at Montreal’s SPCA, 514-735-2711, ext 2245, or adevine@spcamontreal.com

About the SPCA: founded in Montreal in 1869, the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was the first humane society in Canada. Based on humanitarian principles, the mission of the SPCA is:

• protect animals against negligence, abuse, and exploitation;
• represent their interests and ensure their well-being;
• raise public awareness and help develop compassion for all living beings

Our role is to prevent cruelty to animals by a multitude of actions. Visit our website at www.spca.com

For many years, Montreal’s SPCA has been working hard with the three levels of government (municipal, provincial and federal) to improve laws on animal protection.
You can help by sending your comments, concerns or complaints to MAPAQ (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Quebec). Here’s the link to reach them: http://www.mapaq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/coordonnees/Pages/DGSAIA-Santeetbienetredesanimaux.aspx