GUELPH – The Guelph Humane Society (GHS) wants to ensure animals in Guelph and Wellington County continue to be protected, following a decision from the Ontario SPCA to end its work investigating and enforcing animal cruelty laws.
The move will remove authority from local agencies such as GHS as soon as April 1, unless the provincial government accepts a three-month transition period.
“This decision signals a crisis for animals in Ontario,” said GHS executive director Adrienne McBride.
“GHS is the voice for animals in Guelph and Wellington County and we are very concerned that this decision will leave animals vulnerable.”
On March 4, the Ontario Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) sent a letter to Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones, which was obtained by The Canadian Press (CP).
It said the OSPCA will not renew its contract with the province as the enforcer of animal cruelty laws, which expires at the end of March, though it is willing to continue it role for an additional three months.
Since 1919, the OSPCA has had police powers for provincial and criminal code violations, but now wants regular police forces to entirely take over that role.
CEO Kate MacDonald told CP that the agency’s 65 enforcement officers would be offered jobs in the organization’s expanding animal rescue function.
She said OSPCA would like to continue as a support, in a model such as in New York City, where police have an animal cruelty squad, working with the American SPCA.
In a recent court case, a judge ruled OSPCA enforcement powers, which have no oversight in Ontario, were unconstitutional.
In the ruling, the provincial government was given 12 months to rewrite the laws to remedy the situation.
This case is being appealed and is separate to the OSPCA’s decision.
A 2016 report found most OSPCA officers were poorly paid, worked in the field alone, often facing dangerous circumstances, and were responsible for extremely large geographical areas, say OSPCA officials.
An OPP spokesperson said while animal cruelty enforcement is not a core function of policing, they will not ignore complaints of animal cruelty.
Under the current framework, OSPCA agents in Guelph and Wellington County are employed through the Guelph Humane Society, and authority is appointed to them by the OSPCA.
Under the Ontario SPCA Act, only OSPCA agents and police officers have the authority to investigate and enforce animal cruelty laws.
McBride said GHS staff have highly specialized knowledge that includes assessing animal welfare and identifying distress, as well as animal protection laws.
“Our OSPCA officers have a positive working relationship with Guelph and Wellington police services, and we have worked alongside each other on many cases,” said McBride.
“Investigations and enforcement represent the equivalent of 1.5 full-time positions at GHS. Our agents investigated more than 350 animal cruelty cases in the last year. Animals in Guelph and Wellington County need our officers’ expertise.”
GHS is asking supporters to reach out to their local MPP to express the importance of keeping animals in Guelph and Wellington County safe.
“The government has a short time in order to create an alternative enforcement system so animals remain protected,” says McBride.
“GHS has been protecting animals in Guelph and Wellington County for 125 years, and we would hope to continue in this capacity until a formal system for animal protection can be put in place.”
