Animal rights advocates staged a rally on the south lawn of Queen’s Park Monday to oppose a new Private Member’s Bill that would seriously limit the enforcement powers of the Ontario SPCA.
Bill 37 would transfer the Ontario SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) policing powers to police services and government agencies.
Click here to see more photos from Monday’s rally at Queen’s Park.
“I think the people putting this bill forward know perfectly well the police either won’t or can’t be bothered to respond to complaints of animal abuse,” said Jason Sterling, at Monday’s rally.
“Without those (SPCA) officers having the authority to intervene directly at the time they witness the offense I don’t think those animals will be protected at all, making the OSPCA’s enforcement branch completely useless.”
On Monday, revised Bill 37 was scheduled for first reading by Conservative MPP Jack MacLaren.
“So who would the public call now if they see an animal in distress or an animal that’s being abused?” asked rally organizer Anita Krajnc.
Her biggest concern, though, is that the bill would give the Ministry of Agriculture the power to investigate abuse and neglect in cases of farmed animals, police the power in cases of dog and companion animals.
“And that would delay the process if there are animals in distress.”
So if a dog was trapped in a hot car, the animal would now have to left there until a permission for removal is granted by a Justice of the Peace.
“There would be more suffering and even possible death to animals in this province,” she said.
Animal rights activists see Bill 37 as just a way of weakening animal protection in Ontario, once considered by many to a leader in Animal Welfare legislation.
“Every day we hear stories of animals having to be rescued from farms because they’re dying of neglect,” said protester Erika Ritter.
“The reason the OSCPA exists is to at least administer to animal welfare at its most basic level.”
In 2008, the government amended the OSPCA Act to better protect animals in Ontario. Changes included creating standards of care for all animals, giving the OSPCA the authority to inspect premises, other than homes, where animals are kept and creating new provincial offences within the OSPCA Act.
“If Bill 37 passes, there’s going to be fewer cases that go detected,” said Lynn Kavanagh, holding a ‘Bill 37 Protects Animal Abusers’ sign.
Chris Michael Burns attended Monday’s rally because he thinks it’s always a bad idea to give animals less protection.
“The animal cruelty laws in Ontario and Canada are already pathetic,” he said. “And it doesn’t help anyone to make them even more pathetic.”
In Europe, said Burns, the penalties for animal cruelty are much harsher.
More progressive animal welfare laws reflect a recognition of moral status in animals. In Europe, animals are seen to have inherent value as opposed to having value only as property.
Even though Burns doesn’t feel that Bill 37 will pass into law, he said the group will continue their fight until the bill is scrapped.
“Instead, revisions should be made that further protect animals,” he said.
Update:
Jack MacLaren of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario has withdrawn private members Bill 37 but is now introducing The Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 2012 in its place.
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