Saskatchewan adds amendments to laws strengthening animal protection

November 29, 2017, Regina, Sask. – Saskatchewan has announced amendments to the province’s Animal Protection Act, which the government suggests will give it more teeth.

Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart announced the changes Monday and they include broadening the definition of animal distress and giving animal protection officers the ability to issue corrective action orders.

It will also expand the locations animal protection workers can inspect to include boarding kennels and other places where services for animals are provided.

Under the amendments, veterinarians must report suspected cases of animal cruelty.

”It’s bound to keep those who operate slaughterhouses and kennels on their toes a bit and they’ll make sure they’re in compliance with the Act at all times,” Stewart told reporters at the legislature Monday.

Kaley Pugh of Animal Protection Services Saskatchewan said the amendments will make it possible to investigate outside of normal hunting and trapping procedures.

She said the act was very vague before, so her group is pleased with the amendments.

”Animals that are kept in unsanitary conditions will now be considered distressed, animals that require protection from injurious heat or cold will be defined as distressed, so those are improvements that are significant for us,” Pugh said.

Stewart said the amendments will bring Saskatchewan’s legislation in line with other jurisdictions, as well as provide clear direction for enforcement agencies.

Calls for tougher regulations in the province came last year after 14 dogs died of heat stroke and dehydration when a rooftop heating unit malfunctioned at a facility in Saskatoon.

The owner of the kennel, Dave Deplaedt, pleaded guilty to negligence under the Animal Protection Act and his business was fined $14,000, plus a victim surcharge of $5,600.

The president of the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Lesley Sawa, said the organization was pleased to see mandatory veterinary reporting of animal neglect and abuse included in the amendments, noting the organization had requested it.

”Updating the Animal Protection Act will go a long way in helping ensure the health and welfare of animals across the province,” Sawa said in a news release.

Pugh said some vets have been reluctant to report suspected abuse in the past.

”They were worried about the effect on their businesses prior to this. They didn’t want to get in trouble with their clients if they did have something they wanted to report,” she said.