Under Ontario’s Standards of Care, the standards are indicated as “basic”. These are baseline obligations that the province has set to avoid violating the law.
These “basic” standards have been in place since the rollout of The Paws Act – January 2020.
We are now in year 7 of The Paws Act and despite many calls and face to face conversations with Solicitor General Michael Kerzner and with his team of Police Advisors for changes and added clarity to these standards, very little has been done – if any. Many of the regulations still weak and immeasurably vague or are still missing – deemed “to be prescribed”.
So the government has met its legal obligation (they set!!!) BUT does basic mean humane? Do the basic standards mean that the animal’s overall wellbeing is being served? I say no they do not.
Looking at the current Basic Standards of Care (Ontario Regulation 444/19) – boy are they are BASIC!
Basic Standards of Care for All Animals
(1) Every animal must be provided with adequate and appropriate food and water.
(2) Every animal must be provided with adequate and appropriate medical attention.
(3) Every animal must be provided with the care necessary for its general welfare.
(4) Every animal must be transported in a manner that ensures its physical safety and general welfare.
(5) Every animal must be provided with an adequate and appropriate resting and sleeping area.
(6) Every animal must be provided with adequate and appropriate:
(a) space to enable the animal to move naturally and to exercise;
(b) sanitary conditions;
(c) ventilation;
(d) light; and
(e) protection from the elements, including harmful temperatures.
So my question to any reasonable person:
- how do you define “adequate and appropriate”?
- how would an enforcement inspector measure compliance if “adequate and appropriate” is the requirement?
- how would the courts prosecute “adequate and appropriate” ?
Key elements to an animals well being are:
- Ability to exercise
- Enrichment
- Socialization
- Access to fresh air and natural sunlight
These key elements are missing, entirely ignored under Ontario’s Standards of Care.
Ontarian’s are animal loving people. I don’t believe it would be a stretch to say this does not follow our beliefs for the care of animals.
So what can be done?
Below, is a letter already prepared for you. You simply need to copy/paste it into an email to the following recipients:
- Premier Doug Ford: Email: Premier@ontario.ca
- Solicitor General Michael Kerzner: Email: Minister.Solgen@ontario.ca
- Attorney General Doug Downey: Email: Attorneygeneral@ontario.ca
- Chief Animal Welfare Inspector Melanie Milczynski: Email: Melanie.Milczynski@ontario.ca
EMAIL FOR COPY/PASTE:
SUBJECT: PAWS Act – Standards of Care
Insert Greeting/Salutation as appropriate…
The PAWS Act has been in place for seven years and the Basic Standards of Care remain weak, vague, subjective and incomplete. Yet it fulfils the province’s legal obligation.
Throughout, the measurement put forth is “adequate and appropriate”. How can this be used for compliance, enforcement or justice purposes – it cannot.
As mentioned above it fulfils the legal obligation but does not address the obligation that animals are treated in a manner to address their well being.
Key elements such as: ability to exercise, access to fresh air, socialization and enrichment are not addressed in any way – yet are pivotal to an animals overall health and wellbeing.
These poor standards do not represent what the vast majority of Ontarian’s would expect. I call upon you to have these standards revised to ensure the wellbeing of animals is addressed and not just the governments minimal legal obligation.
thank you.