WELFARE - City of Montreal Can Appeal Suspension of Pit Bull Ban

The City of Montreal has been granted permission to appeal a lower court ruling that suspended its controversial pit bull bylaw.

(bestfriends.org)

Quebec's top court will hear arguments Nov. 25. The two sides will be given 30 minutes each to present their case.

The SPCA had argued the law was discriminatory toward dogs that are not dangerous, overly vague in its definition of pit bull-type dogs, and could lead to the euthanasia of hundreds of healthy, well-behaved animals.

Mayor Denis Coderre's administration wants to see the rules restricting pit bulls go ahead despite a legal challenge to its law.

Quebec Bans Tail Docking and Ear Cropping

Quebec's Order of Veterinarians has moved to prohibit certain cosmetic surgeries as of January 2017.

Veterinarians will no longer be able to dock or cut the tails of dogs, cattle or horses for cosmetic reasons. The order also bans ear cropping for cats and dogs because it goes against the principles of ensuring an animal's well-being.

Originally most tail docking and ear cropping was done for practical purposes - often to protect a working animal from injury. Today, most dogs are pets and don't have the same threat of injury and the procedure is often done to meet breed standards, so the surgery is considered cosmetic.

Ear cropping involves cutting off up to two-thirds of the ear flap when the dog is 4-6 months old. It has been banned in many European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Scandinavia.

Tail docking is performed when the puppy is only a few days old. In the process, muscles, tendons, nerves, bone, and cartilage is severed. It has been banned in many countries in Europe as well as Australia. Members of Parliament in the United Kingdom voted to ban tail docking in March 2006, except for working dogs or for medical reasons.

With this move by Quebec to ban cosmetic ear cropping and tail docking, Alberta and Ontario are the only provinces in Canada without legislation outlawing these surgeries.

Quebec Bill Deems Animals Sentient Beings

Last June the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) ranked Quebec as 12th out of the 13 Canadian provinces and territories based on their animal protection laws. ALDF considered Quebec to be “the best province in which to mistreat an animal.”

Quebec animals are now considered “sentient beings” instead of property. The Minister of Agriculture, Pierre Paradis is hoping to change Quebec’s reputation. Bill 54 has the goal of “enshrining animals in Quebec’s Civil Code as sentient beings — that is, feeling and sensing life forms — with their own “biological imperatives,” and not as “furniture” or other movable assets.” The bill highlights the desire of Quebec’s government to punish animal cruelty and is modeled after European legislation (legislation identity was not revealed). Bill 54 has also taken into consideration the animal protection laws in Manitoba, British Columbia, and Ontario.

Fines for those that commit offenses against animals have doubled and range from $500 CDN to $250,000 CDN. Offenders may also receive up to 18 months in prison. Quebec Justice Minister Stephanie Vallee said, “Bill 54 is written in a way that reflects how legislation positively evolves in response to society’s own advancements.”

l’Union des producteurs agricoles (UPA) said that the bill provides flexibility to allow for currently accepted farming practices within the national codes of practice for livestock care and husbandry. UPA said, “[The bill] demonstrates increased public concern, both in Quebec and elsewhere, for the well-being of animals, and that the public wants assurance of humane practices in housing, shipping and slaughter of livestock, as well as safe and responsibly-produced food. For Quebec producers, mistreating an animal, regardless of the circumstances, is an unacceptable action and should be strongly reprimanded.”

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Quebec sets new animal welfare legislation

In order to improve the welfare of companion animals in Quebec, a new licensing program will come into effect 7 November 2013.

The Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food announced the new legislation with the intended purpose of identifying and inspecting facilities that house and care for animals.

More than 250 inspectors, MAPAQ employees and 13-SPA-SPCA are at work in Quebec to ensure compliance with the legislation. The new legislation calls for a permit system for owners or keepers of more than 15 dogs or cats. The permit system is established under the Regulation respecting the safety and well-being of cats and dogs, which is the Law on Animal Health Protection.

For more information, VISIT THE MAPAQ WEBSITE. Please note the provided link routes to a page translated into English by Google Translate. The original French version can be found HERE. 

84 Dogs rescued from Quebec puppy mill

More than 80 have been seized from a large-scale commercial breeding facility in the Monteregie region south of Montreal. 

Montreal's SPCA, Quebec Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Humane Society International/Canada worked collaboratively to investigate and secure the facility. This commercial breeder had already received fines for non-compliance with Quebec animal protection legislation. 

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In 2012, the Quebec government adopted new legislation requiring the standards for the keeping and care of dogs and cats. Earlier this year, it announced a permit system will come into play this fall for facilities with over 15 dogs or cats.