MARKET - Louis McCann President/CEO, PIJAC Canada to Retire

February 13, 2018 (Ottawa, ON) – PIJAC Canada President & CEO, Louis McCann will be retiring after 40 years of service to the Canadian pet industry, 27 of which have been with the association. Louis has been the face of Canada’s industry dedicating his professional and personal life to fostering responsible pet businesses and advancing the standards of care for pets.

At the age of 16 McCann began working for the Montreal SPCA cleaning kennels. After achieving his Bachelor of Science with a major in wildlife management Louis worked his way through the ranks of the SPCA becoming the Director of Cruelty Investigations and Director of the Wildlife Department.  

In 1992 Louis became the Executive Director for the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada (PIJAC Canada) after spending the previous year leading the Quebec Division. For almost over 25 years Louis has been the lead advocate representing the interests of pet businesses in Canada, including; manufacturers, distributors, retailers and pet care service providers. Combining his own expertise with government partners and other pet welfare organizations Louis has raised the bar for the Canadian pet industry. He has achieved this through the development of health protocols, municipal and provincial guidelines, best practice recommendations for businesses and the promotion of sound animal care and husbandry practices in all sectors of the pet industry. From rescuing seals in Montreal harbour to speaking in provincial legislatures across Canada, Louis McCann is one of the foremost authorities on urban animal issues.

“It comes with mixed feelings as we announce Louis’ retirement. Louis has been the face of PIJAC Canada almost since the beginning. His strong leadership and unwavering dedication has allowed for the association’s steady progress. Louis’ determination to build bridges is his legacy. He worked to bring together stakeholders both in and outside the industry to collaborate on the advancement of care standards and responsible practices.”, says Board Chairman, Mike Campbell. “We are truly grateful for all he has done.”

The search for a new association President & CEO has begun. Louis will remain with the association for part of the year, helping to pave the way for his successor.

For more information:
Susan Dankert, Communications Manager, PIJAC Canada
communications@pijaccanada.com

BUSINESS - PIJAC Canada Announces Retailer Award for Animal Welfare

Not only is PIJAC Canada hosting their first Western Canadian Pet Industry Trade Show, they will be presenting the inaugural Animal Welfare is Everyone's BusinessTM – Retail Award (Western) at the event.

The award will highlight the work of dedicated and passionate pet retail businesses in the areas of animal well-being and the promotion of responsible pet ownership.

PIJAC’s goal is to shine a light on the efforts of the people in the pet retail industry and to inspire others to follow in their footsteps.

"For the last 5 years we have been sharing stories about the efforts of businesses who go the extra mile to educate people about responsible pet ownership and help to create positive pet experiences," Louis McCann, association President & CEO, said in a release.

"With the advent of our new Western Canadian Pet Industry Trade Show we felt it was the perfect time to launch this award. It is our hope this award will also become a vehicle for you to celebrate your accomplishments, inspire others and share your stories with the public at large."

Manufacturers and Distributors can submit nominations for the Retail Award (Western) online to PIJAC Canada by May 1st.

Successful nominees will be announced May 9th and PIJAC Canada members, pre-registered show visitors and Western Cdn. Pet Industry Trade Show exhibitors will be eligible to vote online until May 23rd.

Award Criteria:

1. Must be a pet specialty retailer in  one of the following provinces, BC, AB, SK, MB or Territories
2. Must be a brick and mortar location
3. Promotes responsible pet ownership in the store and community ie - take home information packages, after-sale care program, care workshops, school visits, etc.
4. Supports pet families in the community ie - pet food bank, raising awareness of issues impacting pets in the community, assisting other animal organizations, etc.
5. Any other general community support activities

The Retail Award (Western) is the first of many.

PIJAC Canada will be awarding retailers in other parts of the country at ExpoZoo and the National Pet Industry Trade Show.

They will also expand the Animal Welfare is Everyone's Business™ awards to include pet services, manufacturers and distributors in 2018.

Adjudicators Announced for Central Adjudication Event!

Urban Animal: Enriching the lives of people and pets.

The Central Adjudication Event will be presided over by four leading professionals. Each has a broad understanding of the history and experience of people and pets in our communities to judge presentations from the Urban Animal Scholarship nominees. The 2015 Adjudicators for the Central Adjudication Event are:

Dr. Brenda Bonnet, DVM, PhD, Urban Animal Mentor, Alumni

Dr. Bonnet received her DVM from the Ontario Veterinary College and later completed her PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Guelph. Dr. Brenda Bonnet has studied the pet experience around the globe. At Summit 2013, Bonnett presented some of her findings to Summit Delegates. Her lecture focused on the Challenges of the Pet Experience citing breeder suppositions, veterinary expectations and assumptions and the complex interplay of human and animal factors as dilemmas to the pet experience.

Dr. Bonnet taught at the University of Guelph for 19 years. She is currently the CEO for International Partnership for Dogs; a non-profit organization to facilitate collaboration and sharing of resources to enhance the health, well-being and welfare of pedigreed dogs and all dogs worldwide. In 2014 Dr. Bonnet was awarded the Saki Paatsama Award for Dog Health from the Finnish Kennel Club.

Dr. Carlton Gyles, DVM, PhD, University of Guelph

Dr. Gyles came to Canada in the late 1950s and spent his career as a professor, researcher, and mentor at the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Gyles also held administrative positions including Department Chair, Associate Director of the Canadian Institute for Food Safety, Dean of Graduate Studies, and Interim Dean of the Ontario Veterinary College. Dr. Gyles studied E. coli for most of his career and he was one of the first people to identify how a toxin produced by E. coli could cause illness in swine.

In 2006, Dr. Gyles was named the OVC Alumni Association's Distinguished Alumnus. Dr. Gyles is also the recipient of the Roche Diagnostics/CSM Award which is considered to be the highest honor of the Canadian Society of Microbiologists. He has been a strong contributor to scholarly literature, is the Editor-in-Chief of of the Canadian Veterinary Journal, and is the co-editor of a textbook on bacterial pathogenesis.

Mary Lou Leiher, Urban Animal Mentor

Ms. Leiher works with Toronto Animal Services and is the Board Secretary for the Association of Animal Shelter Administrators of Ontario. She was an Urban Animal Nominee in 2014 for launching the Blue Paw Pet Licensing Rewards program. This program provides exclusive offers and discounts on pet-related products and services to owners who license their cats and dogs. This program encourages communication throughout the pet community creating a more positive environment and experience for all pets and their owners.

Louis McCann, Founding Sponsor, Urban Animal Mentor, Alumni

Mr. McCann has had a lifelong passion for animals and supports progress towards a more collaborative future. Equipped with a degree in Wildlife Management and certification from the McGill Institute of Management, Mr. McCann became the Director of Cruelty Investigations and Director of the Wildlife department for the Canadian SPCA in Montreal. Currently, Mr. McCann is the Executive Director of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada; the voice for Canadian Service Providers, Suppliers and Retailers. He holds the longest tenure of any Executive Director in the Canadian Industry.

Alliance for Urban Animals extends support to Puppy Project

Louis McCann
InfoStream Guest Author 

Some of you recently attended the 9^th Summit for Urban Animal Strategies, in Alberta, Canada. Its mission is to support and develop successful strategies for urban animals and to provide recognition for those who lead. 

One such leader in attendance this year was Eileen Higginbotham, a special education teacher from Prince Edward Island. Eileen came to the Summit as part of this year’s Innovation Showcase to present her program, The Prince Street Puppy Project.  

The Prince Street Puppy Project was started in 2011 at Prince Street School in Charlottetown, PEI. Every day, specially selected dogs would come to the school to interact with and engage students. Ms. Higginbotham was able to demonstrate how her program used integrated animal experiences to promote leadership and build empathy amongst the participating students. She explained how her approach instilled confidence, enhanced cooperation and fostered problem solving skills. It also had a profoundly positive effect on the students who struggled most, by helping to create incentives to work hard and giving a sense of belonging at the school.  

Delegates quickly realized the significant impact her program had on students with special needs. You can imagine the shock the delegates felt when we were informed that the Prince Street School initiative had been stopped due to lack of policy.

As members of the Alliance for Urban Animals and on behalf of their close to 1800 like-minded colleagues across North America dedicated to creating healthy communities and positive experiences with companion animals, the OSPCA and PIJAC Canada decided to take action. 

In a letter to the Honourable J. Alan McIsaac, PEI Minster of Education and Early Childhood Development, we expressed our surprise at such a project having been put on hold. In our opinion, a project like this one fit perfectly under the Minister’s Directive on Special Education, which seems to guarantee the use of “alternative initiatives” such as this one in service to the province’s students with special needs.

We also noted that Ms. Higginbotham’s program should be a great source of pride and inspiration to his ministry, the government and the entire province. Having won a provincial award, regional and national recognition (runner up to Innovator of the Year award and designation of Urban Animal Mentor) and being the model for other similar programs in Nova Scotia reflects well on the province’s innovative ways. We invited the Minister to contact the Alliance for Urban Animals for assistance in addressing the concerns that may have been expressed on this program. 

The Alliance for Urban Animals needs to voice its support of projects like the one put together by Ms. Higginbotham, emphasizing the importance of such an approach in enhancing the quality of education for students with special needs. We believe that a positive pet experience is instrumental in improving the learning experience of these students.

We can only hope that a solution can be brought forward to re-instate this life altering educational curriculum and provide these exceptional students with the tools they need to learn and grow.

Petland CEO defends retail sale of pets

Earlier this month, InfoStream reported four leading U.S. organizations were joining forces to overturn a proposed ban on pet sales in retail stores. Recently, Petland added its voice to the conversation as the organization's CEO, Joe Watson, defended the retail sale of pets. 

"Retail bans re essentially a feel-good effort that does little to nothing to address substandard breeders," Watson told MarionStar.com, adding that as few as 2 per cent of puppies are purchased in pet stores. "The math is pretty simple. If every pet store selling puppies closed tomorrow, not a single breeder would go out of business." 

Read the MarionStar.com News Article! 

Since 2007, nearly 50 U.S. cities have outlawed retail pet shops in response to growing concerns that puppy mills are sourcing their inventory. These municipal bylaws are designed to curb impulse buying as well as abuses by commercial breeders. 3

Several Canadian communities have also adopted bylaw amendments which prohibit pet stores from selling dogs and cats unless they come from a registered non-profit rescue or shelter but the implications on small businesses can be drastic. In 2013, following the overturning of a pet sale ban in Vernon, B.C., President and CEO of PIJAC Canada, Louis McCann explained the solution is not in banning pet sales but in promoting positive relationships between retailers and the community. 

"The focus moves retailers and service providers from defending a right, to being transparent providers and offering themselves as part of the solution to a community concern," said McCann. 

Read the InfoStream New Article!

ANIMA-Québec announces move from inspection to education

ANIMA-Québec (National Association of Intervention for the Well-Being of Animals) announced it is terminating its inspection activities to focus on animal welfare education and information. 

PIJAC Canada executive director Louis McCann said the move to education will benefit the general public, shelters, pet stores and breeders. 

"With the help of several organizations like PIJAC Canada, ANIMA-Québec intends to develop a voluntary certification and accreditation program for all pet establishments, including those appearing on internet sites and in classifieds," said McCann. 

"We have made a commitment to be involved in the following two working groups: One on the development of certification principles, in light of our expertise in this area, and another on the development of communication tools." 

For eleven consecutive years, ANIMA-Québec's primary focus was on the inspection of places of custody of pets. Given that inspection activities are now carried out by several other government supported organizations, ANIMA-Québec will now leverage its expertise in a more efficient way to better meet the needs of the population's safety and welfare of animals.  

Louis McCann Luncheon Guest at 2013 Regional Conferences

Prominent industry leader, Louis McCann, is the Luncheon guest of the 2013 Regional Conference on Thursday in Halifax. Louis was a national spokesperson for the CBC Doc Zone airing of DOG DAZED.  He fielded online questions and contributed an industry perspective to the CBC Online Chat as DOG DAZED moved through the various time zones across Canada.

As the Chair of the National Companion Animal Coalition and the Executive Director of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, Louis brings more than 20 years of experience as a national voice for Urban Animals. Louis was also a founding member and continues to be a significant contributor of the Urban Animal think tank. His appearances across Canada on the Regional Conference tour shows his commitment to understand local issues and support regional initiatives.

Louis will add his comments to the showing of the DOG DAZED trailer setting up the Pet Experience Workshops lead by Dr. Jason Coe during the afternoon.

PIJAC Canada - A Quarter Century of Care and Attention

Driven by the vision of an ever widening group of industry crusaders, PIJAC Canada, has been responsible for bringing collaboration, professionalism and best practices to retailers, service providers and distributors of the pet industry for more than a quarter of a century.  

From its earliest moments, the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada has been a force for fairness, balance and evidence based discussion concerning the issues and strategies to be dealt with by this industry. A leading participant in the National Companion Animal Coalition and a founding member of the Urban Animal Program, PIJAC Canada, Executive Director, Louis McCann has used his knowledge of the Urban Environment, the Animal Welfare Sector, the Non-profit and For-profit Enterprise to weave the fabric of an important industry foundation. McCann is supported by a robust board of directors lead by Keith Burgess, and a small but hard working team. From base operations in Ottawa they have put the Canadian Industry on the world map and provided commentary to animal issues from coast-to-coast.

The industry has benefited as a whole from this investment of energy and from the core beliefs that drive the organization. Moving forward, PIJAC Canada has completed a review and strategic plan that prepares them for the 'digital age' and the challenge of changing paradigms. Bravo PIJAC Canada! 

DOG DAZED Live Chat

As the Bountiful Films documentary sweeps across the country this evening on CBC's Doc Zone, three industry advocates will participate in an live online chat to discuss the show's impact on the companion animal industry, the Pet Experience Project and how the world may just be 'going to the dogs'. 

Join CFHS CEO Barbara Cartwright, PIJAC Canada executive director Louis McCann and Urban Animal executive producer Larry R. Evans:

JOIN THE LIVE CHAT

Tune in TONIGHT at 9 p.m. on CBC to watch DOG DAZED.

A Postmortem evaluation of Vernon's 'Ban' decision

Recently, Vernon municipal council voted ‘No’ to a ban on the retailing of pets. This situation became an interesting case study, as it was an example of how the PIJAC Canada toolkit was used in a community having a ‘Ban Conversation’. Last week, InfoStream caught up with Louis McCann (LM), Executive Director, PIJAC Canada, and Lisa Badach (LB), proprietor of AJ’s Pets to capture this story.

InfoStream (INFO):  Thanks to both of you for taking time to speak with us about the Vernon ‘Ban’ episode. Lisa how long has AJ’s Pets been servicing the community of Vernon?

Lisa:  Andrew started the business in late eighties but I didn’t switch careers from healthcare to pets until 2000.  We’ve built AJ’s into a store that received national recognition as Nominee for Retailer of the Year at Summit 2011.

INFO: When did the Vernon conversation to ban the retailing of pets begin?

Lisa: I received a call from an industry colleague on Monday, 14 January 2013, letting me know that council would be considering a ban on the retailing of puppies, kittens and rabbits. The motion was set to come before council the next week.

INFO:  Who brought this conversation forward and what was their relationship to the community?

Lisa: The point person turned out to be a breeder/rescue person from outside the community with support from a number of other like-minded individuals. While only two people eventually showed up at the council meeting, the media attention made it look like a really big deal.

INFO: This is an important industry conversation for a community, how did the Vernon community line up on the issue?

Lisa: It was difficult to understand the metrics of the situation and we soon realized that we really didn’t know how stakeholders would line up.  In hindsight, we need to be far more engaged with the council and community.

INFO:  Going in what was your estimation of the impact on your business and the community?

Lisa: I felt like we had been kicked in the gut. All I could think about was that our customers, my employees and the community were all threatened. I couldn’t imagine that anything positive would come of it.

INFO:  So what did you do?

Lisa: Well, we have been a member of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada since 2005, and I remembered reading somewhere they were developing an information kit for communities involved in a ‘Ban’ conversation. So I called Ottawa and hollered for ‘Help’.

INFO:  How did council go about giving the matter due process?

Lisa: They invited comment from the community at a meeting to be held the following week.  Shortly after hearing about the situation, we were contacted by the  media, had visits from the public and a phone call from one of our municipal representatives to gather evidence for themselves.

INFO:  So I think we all have a picture. Let’s turn our attention to what intrigues us most, the use of the PIJAC Canada toolkit for this conversation. Louis can you tell us a bit about why this kit was developed?

Louis: First, let’s understand the environment in Canada. The conversation to ‘Ban’ the sale of animals first gained attention in Richmond, British Columbia in 2009. Ultimately that conversation was more of a lesson in ‘what not to do’ and it resulted in a ‘Ban’ being imposed. Since then, the ‘Ban’ conversation has spread to other communities where some retailers and services providers felt like they were under siege. We understood our members were in need of extra support and decided to create a toolkit that could empower these local tax paying businesses to be active in this conversation.

INFO:  That seems like a really good approach.  Louis - how does one use the PIJAC kit?

Louis: As we began to assemble this kit for our members, we had an opportunity observe ‘Ban’ conversations in Winnipeg and Calgary. We realized this conversation really needs to begin well before such a challenge comes into view. Our members need to be trusted by council and receive regular updates about pets and pet owners in the community. This was a defining moment for PIJAC Canada. It changed our focus from being an intervener to equipping local members to build relationships and understand the councils developing agenda. The kit encourages proactive relationship development using both local and national resources. The focus moves retailers and service providers from defending a right, to being transparent providers and offering themselves as part of the solution to a community concern.

INFO: Okay that’s positive but what’s in the kit?

Louis: The kit explains to our members how to prepare for challenging conversations; how to develop positive relationships; there are letter templates for writing council; templates for gathering and presenting statistics; national statistics from the Urban Animal Strategies surveys; a discussion of why pets end up in Shelters; information about the dilemma of irresponsible breeding facing every community; and, suggestions for how we can all work together to create a healthy community for pets and people.

INFO:  This sounds very comprehensive. Lisa, how did you use this resource?

Lisa: The first thing I did was to gather my staff and mobilize them so I could concentrate on being in the community. Next I used the templates in the kit to create 150 full color education kits. Then I visited everyone in the community from media to vets, from animal services to by-law enforcement, from competitors to pet owners and anyone else who would listen. These packages and my visits told the story of pets in our community.

INFO: This sounds fascinating. What did you achieve?

Lisa: My first achievement was personal – learning how to conduct an interview or presentation while keeping my emotions in check.  The second achievement was deeper relationships with the rest of the community and seeing our store as part of something really good for families, for our community and for our culture. Lastly, and kudos to the Council and citizens of Vernon for checking things out and discovering that a retail ban wouldn’t be effective against the real problem - irresponsible breeding and backyard breeders.

INFO:  Sounds like mission accomplished. How expensive was the exercise for you and the store?

Lisa: Well the kit is part of PIJAC Canada’s Member services so it was provided free of charge. You can’t beat that! My concentrated efforts took me away from the store for ten days and there were other costs but, we discovered something quite fascinating. The public came to the store to check things out for themselves and our brand was all over the community and media. At the end of the episode, we actually experienced a little bump in sales and a tremendous amount of good will from the community that still carries on.

INFO:  Lisa, is there any advice to give or anything you would do different?

 

Lisa: My advice is – start to build relationships right now before there is an issue. If a challenge comes along, keep your emotions under control and stay on the high road. Invest in your brand with ethical standards that will build your reputation in the community. Lastly, if you aren’t a member of PIJAC Canada join! Our PIJAC Canada membership costs us $285 annually and it has sure paid us dividends.

INFO:  Louis, do you have any final words?

Louis: Lisa is a passionate promoter of animals and positive pet experiences. I’m sure challenges will continue to arrive but she has shown that our retailers and service providers have a professional, transparent way to contribute to community conversations. We’re all in animal welfare. Eliminating irresponsible breeding activities is everyone’s business!

INFO: Thank you for giving us this time and for keeping industry leaders informed about what’s going on in these community conversations.  

An Interview with Louis McCann of PIJAC Canada

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada, PIJAC Canada, has long been the voice for Canadian Service Providers, Suppliers and Retailers.  Since 1991 it has been lead by Louis McCann, an Executive Director with a background in Enforcement, Humane and Rescue and a vision for a collaborative industry that meets the needs of the ultimate client, the pet family. InfoStream caught up with Louis recently at his home in St. Pascal, just outside of Ottawa.

InfoStream: Louis, you have the longest tenure of any Executive Director in the Canadian Industry. What is the secret of your longevity?

Louis: I've had a lifelong passion for animals, I have confidence humanity ultimately does what is right and I  have lived to realize progress being made toward a more collaborative future. These elements together with the support of my colleagues has given me a certain resilience as an industry spokesman and as the executive director of the association representing those who serve pet families across Canada.

InfoStream: Everyone who meets you sees the passion for animals. Tell us more about how this came to be.

Louis: As I grew up, I imagined myself becoming a veterinarian and working with animals. However, circumstance led me in a different direction. Equipped with a degree in Wildlife Management and certification from the McGill Institute of Management, I became the Director of Cruelty Investigations and Director of the Wildlife department for the Canadian SPCA in Montreal. Eventually, my interest in working with the urban community extended from intervening in the lives of more than 10,000 animals each year to developing a store inspection program. But, the component I enjoy most is contact with pet families who are experiencing the joy of owning a pet. This gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

InfoStream: The pet experience is big for you. Tell us about your pets.

Louis: My family and I have two Newfs, a yellow Lab and three cats. These animals don't judge us, they give us unconditional love and they provide our family with incredible impact and enjoyment. We can't imagine being without them but I know we sometimes take this for granted. Recently, I was attending a Reptile Show in Quebec and I saw first hand the kind of excitement and enthusiasm those owners projected toward their pets in a day and age when video games or computers capture a lot of attention. This kind of positive pet experience is what we need to celebrate and promote as an industry.

InfoStream: So let us understand something. If the companion animal industry only works when pet families have an awesome pet experience, why isn't this the foremost priority?

Louis: That is a question that is often debated. Sometimes I wonder if it is because some of us think 'good' only comes from one source. For instance, we are all involved in 'animal welfare', but sometimes we project this as the priority of only one sector of the industry. I think we confuse the pet family when we ask them to choose one industry member at the expense of another. The pet experience is 98% social and we all need to work together to achieve the awesome experience our pet family clients deserve.

InfoStream: It sounds like this is aligned with 'TheExperience Economy', Joe Pine talks about. What are the next steps for moving forward?

Louis: Some of us are involved in an industry wide conversation about the pet experience that was initiated at Summit 2012.  Dr. Drew Van Niekerk is leading this initiative and I am a big supporter. We are working to identify the values pets bring to our lives, our homes and our communities as well as to understand the barriers that pet families encounter as they seek an awesome pet experience. I expect this conversation will  be expanded during the 2013 Regional Conference tour in April and at Summit 2013 in October. Some of us have a vision of a new industry wide initiative 'Celebrating the Pet Experience' for 2014.

InfoStream: What do you see as the greatest risk for the industry?

Louis: Perhaps the greatest risk is not working together. We've all seen individuals who try too hard to hit a home run instead of just hitting the ball so their teammates can work with them to deliver a win. In the face of a declining pet population and other pressures, I believe this conversation is an essential element for the sustainability of this industry.

InfoStream: Anything else to share?

Louis: In French we say 'Le futur est à la collaboration'. Collaboration is the future and the only way we will deliver the 'Awesome experience' pet families deserve.

InfoStream: Louis, thanks for telling us your story and for leading your members to support this initiative! When you have time we should book another interview to tell the PIJAC Canada story.

Summit Session V focuses on industry-wide collaboration cultivated by changes in the Animal Services and Retail sector

The greatest transition in retail history took place during 2011/2012, when most major pet retailers moved toward an adoption model highlighting collaboration with agencies in Animal Humane & Rescue and/or Animal Care and Control. Does the evidence show this was a beneficial move for animals and communities?  Are there unintended consequences to be addressed? How will retail stores and service providers contribute to the industry as the future develops? The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada (PIJAC) shows us how their role is undergirding the industry in new and exciting ways. 

PIJAC Canada's Susand Dankert and Louis McCann have extensive experience in the companion animal industry. Together, they will spearhead a Summit Session and thought process based on how the Animal Services and Retail sector are collaborating with Animal Humane and Rescue and what the future holds for both as we move forward to make safer and happier communities for pets and people. 

Susan Dankert, communications coordinator for PIJAC Canada, began her career in the pet industry in 2001. With a background in broadcasting, she has a drive to share the story of the industry with media, legislators, pet owners and all pet organizations. Dankert believes engagement between pet sectors improves how the industry functions, resulting in the enhancement of pet well-being.

Louis McCann has spent close to 40 years working in the companion animal industry. For over 20 years, he has served as the Executive Director for PIJAC and has become a lead advocate representing the interests of pet businesses in Canada, including: manufacturers, distributors, retailers and pet care service providers. McCann views cooperation over confrontation as the ultimate path to progress, this is why he has worked tirelessly to advance standards surrounding the care and health of pets everywhere. 

Get the facts, have your say, move the industry!