As part of the Ontario SPCA's ongoing efforts to establish stronger laws and enforcement structures that will provide legal protection for animals, the Ontario SPCA lobbies and works with the government on a number of fronts in an advocacy role to share expertise, experience and recommendations about existing and proposed legislation, with many positive results including:

• The new Animal Welfare Act was passed in 2008, resulting in stiffer penalties for those accused of animail cruelty. The Act brings Ontario up to the standards of other provinces in the country.
• A number of strong recommendations included in the Report of the Meat Regulatory and Inspection Review - including provincial regulations on the transport of animals and training for slaughterhouse staff; and
• Four Ontario SPCA inspectors appointed by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA)) under the Livestock Community Sales Act as a pilot project to monitor the welfare of animals at sales barns, and to conduct trace back investigations to farms.

Ontario SPCA activities to protect animals are helped in an extraordinary way by your letters, phone calls, e-mails and petitions. Public support is one of the most positive powers for change in government and industry - and our advocacy efforts are strengthened by your support.

Help save countless lives from abuse by joining the Stop Animal Cruelty Now campaign today!