CVMA offers to help develop Animal Cruelty bill

Private member's Bill C-592 to amend the Criminal Code animal cruelty section was tabled in April 2014 by Member of Parliament Isabelle Morin. At that time, MP Morin contacted the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) requesting support for this Bill. 

After careful consideration, CVMA has declined the request, instead offering to work with MP Morin to develop an amendment to the animal cruelty section of the Criminal Code that addresses the weaknesses in the current legislation. 

Amendments proposed by CVMA include: 

• Moving animal cruelty offenses out of the property section of the Criminal Code
• Adding an offense for 'brutal and vicious' killing of animals
• Removing the term 'willful neglect' as burden of proof for animal cruelty conviction

For more information, visit www.canadianveterinarians.net.