Lack of Effective Anti-Cruelty Laws: One of the greatest obstacles to combating farm animal cruelty is the lack of effective federal and provincial anti-cruelty laws. Federally, Ontario SPCA investigators must rely on Criminal Code of Canada provisions that have been around since 1892. Bill C-50, the latest in a long line of legislative bills that would amend Canada's woefully outdated animal cruelty provisions in the Criminal Code, died on the order paper after receiving only a brief debate on first reading when an election was called on November 29, 2005. This bill was the seventh version of this legislation presented in the House of Commons since 1999. Bill C-50 would have removed animal cruelty crimes from the "property" section of the Criminal Code and placed them in their own section, in addition to increasing penalties and removing the onus to prove that neglect against an animal was "wilful" before charges can be laid. Currently, it is not enough to prove that someone starved an animal to death, for example, but that it was done on purpose.

Provincially, Ontario's anti-cruelty laws are very weak relative to other provinces, such as Alberta, and pertain mainly to animals bred for sale, which can be very difficult to prove. In some cases, charges can be laid under other provincial legislation, such as the Food Safety and Quality Act; Dead Animals Disposal Act; Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act; Animals for Research Act; and Dog Owners' Liability Act.

Humane Slaughter: The Ontario SPCA has great concern about animal welfare in illegal slaughterhouse operations, provincially licensed abattoirs and animal transportation operations. It is estimated that there are hundreds of illegal slaughter operations in Ontario, with a significant number in the Greater Toronto Area, presenting a serious animal welfare issue. Crude implements are being used to kill animals in extremely unsanitary conditions. It is an organized commercial crime meeting a demand for cheap meat. And it cannot be presumed that all provincially licensed abattoirs slaughter animals humanely. For example, the Society obtained a conviction of a licensed abattoir in Oxford County when Den Dekker Meats pled guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice to charges under the Meat Inspection Act relating to inhumane and improper handling of pigs.

Additional resources
Killing Without Compassion: Illegal Slaughterhouses in Ontario | Illegal Slaughter Hotline

Humane Transportation: The Ontario SPCA has been active for five years in the province's Humane Transportation Working Group, along with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ontario Farm Animal Council, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and representatives of the transport, producer and slaughter sectors. Among problem areas in the transportation of animals are the transport of "compromised" (sick or injured) animals and inadequate enforcement of the regulations. Between January 2000 and July 2003, there were 50 serious contraventions in Ontario of the federal Health of Animals Act regulations pertaining to the transportation of animals.

Neglect: While most farmers in Ontario are legitimate, responsible and truly concerned for the health and welfare of their animals, the Ontario SPCA receives cruelty complaints regarding both "commercial" farmers (operators of large-scale production systems with hundreds to tens of thousands of animals) and "backyard" or "weekend" farmers - hobbyists who typically purchase an inexpensive piece of land, farm a small number of animals (50 to 100 generally), and may live elsewhere, commuting to the farm on weekends. Close inspection of some of these commercial or "hobby farms" has revealed animals condemned to a life of suffering and neglect. Common signs of neglect include: Rotted, cracked, infected or overgrown hoofs; emaciation, muscle wasting and visible ribs, backbone and shoulder blades; hair loss, dull or brittle hair coat, raw skin or itchiness; coughing, wheezing or discharge from the eyes or nose; dehydration; and heatstroke, sunburn or frostbitten limbs and appendages. Click here to view photos.

Additional resources
Inside Commercial and Backyard Farms: Investigating Cases of Farm Animal Cruelty | What is Animal Cruelty?