Puppy Mills:
The Ontario SPCA Investigations Department is committed to shutting down puppy mills in Ontario, but this is a tremendous mandate requiring large investigative
manpower to respond to the more than 400 mills that are still in operation. Many mills are located in remote rural areas where the Ontario SPCA is only able
to staff a few investigators to cover a large territory. Mills are foremost on the agenda because of the mass numbers of animals involved, and the degree of
cruelty these animals are subjected to through filthy living conditions, malnutrition, mass breeding, and a lack of veterinary care. Furthermore, mill
operators manipulate an unknowing public who think they are buying animals from reputable breeders. This animal cruelty and fraud must not continue.
Additional resources
Photos | Pet Stores in Ontario
Dog Fighting and
Cock Fighting: In the past decade the Ontario SPCA and police have uncovered numerous dog fighting and cock fighting rings, and many animals have
been removed as a result. The injuries inflicted and sustained by animals participating in dog fights or cock fights are frequently severe, even fatal.
Animals who survive a fight often die of blood loss, shock, dehydration, exhaustion or infection, hours, or even days after the fight. Other animals are
often sacrificed, including smaller animals such as cats, rabbits or small dogs (often stolen) and used for bait during training. Additional concerns the
Ontario SPCA and police have with dog fighting and cock fighting includes the sale and use of illegal drugs at fights, illegal gambling (spectators may
spend thousands of dollars wagering on their favourites); and the presence of firearms and other weapons present (because of the large amounts of cash
present). The Ontario SPCA continues to monitor incidents of suspected dog and cock fighting in the province and is working with police and animal control
agencies to combat the problem.
Additional resources
Photos | White paper
Farm Animal 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. Through partnerships with the agricultural community and the government, and
by providing education and enforcement programs, the Ontario SPCA works towards ensuring that all farm animals are treated humanely.
Click here to view photos.
Additional resources
Inside Commercial and Backyard Farms: Investigating Cases of Farm Animal
Cruelty | What is Animal Cruelty? | Horse neglect in Ontario
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.
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 Council, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and representatives of the transport 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 of the federal Health of Animals Act regulations pertaining to the transportation of animals.
Wildlife: The Ontario SPCA responds to a high number of
cruelty complaints regarding wildlife, especially in the summer. Many of the complaints involve inappropriate killing or inhumane and/or illegal trapping.
Traps frequently catch non-targeted species, such as dogs and cats, and if infrequently checked, can cause both targeted and non-targeted victims to suffer
immensely - and in many cases slowly die - from thirst, starvation, hypothermia, vulnerability to predators, and/or self mutilations (e.g. chewing off their
leg or broken teeth from biting the trap) in their frantic efforts to escape. The Society also advocates on behalf of wildlife by commenting to the provincial
government on proposed legislation and regulations related to wildlife. This has included a variety of important issues, such as the proposed expansions to
wild turkey hunting season, expansions of the fall black bear hunt, a review of protected areas legislation and a proposal to further prohibit hunting of
wildlife in captivity.
Exotic Animals as Pets: The keeping of exotic animals (animal species not native to Canada) as pets is increasingly popular, but along with that popularity comes an array of animal welfare issues as exotic pet owners often find themselves unable to care for the specialized needs of these creatures. Exotic pets are often purchased on impulse, with little knowledge or consideration regarding their environmental, behavioural, physiological and psychological needs, resulting in their improper care or neglect.
Some examples are:
- The Ontario SPCA removed approximately 200 exotic animals and birds from a property in the Town of Innisfil, Ontario. The animals were discovered
in cages throughout the two-story farmhouse in extremely unsanitary and poor living conditions. Among the animals removed were snakes - boas, pythons
and King snakes - iguanas, chameleons, monitor lizards, cayman, scorpions, tarantulas, hedgehogs, ferrets, prairie dogs, a wallaby, coatamundi, hyrax
and cockatiels. The costs of relieving the distress and providing the specialist care for all these animals and birds was very high. In another incident,
a Savannah monitor lizard suffered severe burns to its entire back, probably due to the inappropriate placement of a heat lamp within its enclosure.
It also suffered from severe neurological problems and nutritional deficiencies. The rehabilitation time for this animal was significant, and it never
fully recovered from its neurological problems.
- A bearded dragon was brought to the Ontario SPCA, presumably abandoned by an owner that no longer wanted to care for it as a pet.
- A red-eared slider turtle was surrendered to the Ontario SPCA and suffered from severe malnutrition due to years of an improper diet.
Municipal by-laws are the most prominent manner in which the keeping of exotic animals as pets is regulated in Ontario, but even so, exotic animal by-laws are far from common.
Additional resources
Pet Reptiles in Ontario
Animal Hoarding: Animal hoarding occurs in communities across the province. A complex disorder, it affects both human and animal welfare, is responsible
for substantial animal suffering and property damage, and is frequently misunderstood and under-recognized. Thousands of animals in Ontario are affected each
year, yet due to the nature of animal hoarding, countless cases remain undetected and unreported. Animal hoarding should not be confused with legitimate efforts
to assist animals, including animal sheltering, sanctuary and rescue.
Additional resources
Animal Hoarding in Ontario
