Animal cruelty investigations by the Ontario SPCA and its affiliated Humane Societies are governed by provincial legislation under the Ontario SPCA Act. The Ontario SPCA has developed a highly trained and highly professional Investigations Department with 205 Inspectors and Agents across the province providing more animal protection and enforcement of legislation than ever before.

Ontario SPCA Inspectors are not "dog catchers" or animal control officers enforcing municipal by-laws, but rather, trained criminal investigators investigating animal cruelty - which, in Canada, is a crime. The ongoing daily workload of the Ontario SPCA staff ranges from answering routine inquiries to investigating allegations of abuse and neglect of animals, and preparing Crown Briefs and making court appearances in cases where animal cruelty charges have been laid.

The Investigations Department provides training, guidance, leadership, support and oversight to all Inspectors across the province. Issues such as: animals used in entertainment, rodeos, circuses, zoos, fish markets, humane transportation, puppy mills, and animal fighting are researched and vital information is passed to the field officers through workshops, conferences, memos, Standing Orders and other means.

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