Humane Initiative is an Ontario based animal advocacy group. Our model is not that of a rescue nor are we a shelter. We will step in when required to help animals in urgent need of safety and placement. We are not a registered charity and do not solicit donations unless we have committed to aid an animal in need of vet care.
Our heart and soul is focused on improving the protections in place for animals. Ensuring animals live with dignity, free from exploitation and in alignment with their specific species.
Currently, animal protections in Ontario whether those animals are companion, farm, wild – kept in captivity or completely wild are poor to say the least.
Animals in Ontario and most of Canada are not seen as sentient; meaning they are not acknowledged as having the ability to “feel”. They are not seen as being able to experience pain, distress, joy, fear, loneliness … the list continues. This belief goes against basic science and is also contradicted in parts of legislation (e.g. where “distress” is referenced). In the eyes of the law, animals are deemed “property”. And we disagree with that position whole heartedly.
Our mission is to raise public awareness and public engagement in order to drive change for:
- Legislation and regulations that reflect standards of care that align with nationally acknowledged standards of animal humane care
- Specific and measurable standards to aid in compliance and achieving justice
- Increased number of properly trained animal welfare inspectors
- Enforcement strategy built to gain access and oversight into all areas where animals are kept and the model is robust, strongly resourced and all parties know their responsibilities
- Improved transparency and accountability to the taxpayer by the authoritative bodies
- Collaboration and support amongst animal welfare stakeholders (legislative bodies, enforcement, advocates, rescues, shelters/humane societies)
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“I hold that the more helpless the creature, the more entitled it is to protection by man from the cruelty of humankind”
— Mahatma Gandhi —