This is NOT Hopeless – We Have Our Voices
EXPOSING ONTARIO’S BROKEN ANIMAL WELFARE SYSTEM AND DEMANDING CHANGE
Justice for Dakota and all animals being left to suffer #itsaboutthem
A Call to Action:
WHEN: Saturday, July 19, 2025 – 10am to 2pm
WHERE: Niagara Falls, Ontario (Hwy 420/Stanley Ave) – 5451 Stamford St. Niagara Falls
This address is a large GO Transit parking lot with ample parking. There is other parking nearby as well. Demonstration area will be on public sidewalks in this high traffic area to have our voices heard!
Animals are being abused, neglected and exploited. The PAWS Act is broken. It is failing the animals and protecting the abusers.
The Crisis:
- Rescues and shelters are full, at capacity and closed to intake
- Rescues, shelters, pounds and sanctuaries being asked by the government to shelter domestic and farm animals that Animal Welfare Services seized.
- Premier Ford committed to providing this infrastructure in 2019 to fulfil their responsibility but has not delivered
- This takes up crucial space needed by the public and municipal animal services. This results in increased humane euthanasia’s at shelters and pounds.
- Marketplace is swamped with puppies and kittens due to uncontrolled, licensed breeding
- Animals once pets – now being dumped in the middle of no where by uncaring owners
- Unsold litters being dumped by unscrupulous and unlicensed breeders and brokers
- No government support of rescues and wildlife rehabilitation centres that take on the heavy burden of doing what the government is responsible for
- Reported cases of abuse/neglect often go unresponded to by Animal Welfare Services
- Rescues forced to close under overwhelming debt trying to save animals abandoned by this government
The Failure:
- Animals still viewed as mere property. Not as living breathing beings
- Severe understaffing of Inspectors to cover the entire province. Only 100 for all of Ontario
- Standards of Care – the very cornerstone of animal welfare protection policy is so weak and vague. Makes compliance measurement and charging virtually impossible
- Enforcement model adopted by this government is passive “re-education” of suspected offenders. Focus is not on the well being of the animal which may require charges being laid and removal of the animal
- Inspectors not armed with the needed powers and many without needed skills to protect vulnerable animals
- The case of Dakota. Call after call to AWS, police, municipal bylaws to save Dakota – no response
- The case of Stephanie Redlick. AWS left horses left with horrific injuries for 8 days even after visiting the property and deeming the animals as “in distress”
- Jessica Kippen, 4 Lucky Paws Rescue, Jessica Kippen, Eastern Ontario Cats, Tim Hubert…the list goes on and on of epic failures of the taxpayer funded system
- Government refuses to add regulations to selling platforms like Kijiji and live animal selling websites
- Animals exploited as entertainment at amusement parks and roadside zoos. No licensing, regulation of facilities/zoos/roadside zoos. Very little oversight – leaves animals very vulnerable.
- Look at the absolute disgrace of Marineland. Multiple Ontario governments refused to step up and do what was necessary.
- Marineland now closed but many animals are still there including 31 beluga whales with no where to go
- Government acted ONLY after public outcry for years act
- No co-ordination between AWS and police to bring criminal charges when warranted
- No consistent policy from the Ministry of the Solicitor General to the police services they oversee
- Abusers left unpunished – left to continue harming animals even when there is substantial evidence that shows the clear correlation between animal abuse and human on human violence
- No accountability to the taxpayers of Ontario
- Over 70% of annual budget spent on salaries not services to protect animals
Dakota’s Story:
