From the BC SPCA's Companion Animal Management Program (CAMP) that purports to assess dogs and cats at SPCAs.

"Responsible guardianship means that a guardian makes provisions for the five freedoms for their companion animal, ensures the animal does not contribute to overpopulation and is a well-adjusted member of the community."

Is the SPCA going to say that the puppy miller can be trusted to meet its own definition of "responsible guardianship"?

More SPCA p.r. that appears to have no practical application:

BC SPCA Operational Bulletin #19B
Animal Care Guidelines FOR DOGS

Distribution:
All Branches & Agents

Date of Issue:
March 1997

Date Revised:
January 2002

Revisions to the Animal Care Guidelines reflect changes in our mission (now The BC SPCA Charter) and the recognition that animals should have, at minimum, five essential freedoms.

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act provides guidelines about the authority and responsibilities of BC SPCA constables to ensure that animals receive adequate care. The BC SPCA Animal Care Guidelines describes conditions to be evaluated to establish if adequate care is provided.

Authorized Agents must make every effort to educate those responsible for the care of animals on conditions required for adequate care.

Terms in these guidelines are defined as follows:

Adequate care: is when provisions are made that enable the animal to experience:

Freedom from thirst, hunger and malnutrition
Freedom from discomfort
Freedom from pain, injury and disease
Freedom from distress
Freedom to express behaviour that promotes well-being.
Definitions

Distress: includes physical and emotional distress and spans from low intensity to critical. Animals express distress by engaging in maladaptive behaviour (eg, repetitive behaviours).

Physical stress: is an aversive (negative) state experienced by an animal unable to adapt to environmental conditions, suffering from illness, pain or deprived of basic sustenance. Physical distress generally co-exists with emotional distress.

Emotional distress: is an aversive (negative) state experienced by animals when exposed to stressors causing negative emotions such as anxiety and fear, or when deprived of mental stimulation resulting in negative emotions such as depression, frustration or boredom.

Well-Being: includes both physical and emotional health.

Emotional Well-being: the animal shows evidence of normal behaviour and absence of abnormal behaviour (species specific).

Physical Well Being: the animal does not show clinical symptoms of disease or evidence of current or old injury left untreated (e.g., broken leg healed without being set).

The onus is on the person responsible for the animal to ensure that the physical and emotional needs of animals are met. These have been defined in the guidelines as the "five freedoms".

Freedom from pain, injury and disease - By providing rapid diagnosis and treatment (euthanasia may be considered a treatment)

Dogs exhibiting signs of illness or injury should be provided with immediate veterinary care. Some examples are:

Vomiting, diarrhea or very foul smelling stools, distended abdomen, blood in urine or stools, persistent coughing, discharge from the eyes and nose, excessive head and scratching of ears, abnormal skin condition and so on.
Internal / external parasitic infestations should be treated at the earliest opportunity.
Vaccinations appropriate for the species should be kept up-to-date.
Abnormal growths\tumours should be treated in consultation with a veterinarian.
Freedom from emotional distress - By ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Dogs will experience emotional distress when housing, feeding, comfort and health needs are not met. In addition, dogs will experience emotional distress when:

not given opportunity to form bonds with a human (constant change of caretaker)
deprived of human contact
exposed to harsh and inhumane training techniques
emotionally neglected (eg., placed in isolation for extended as a training method)
placed in group housing that does not offer dogs the opportunity to withdraw from each other (eg., no cage item such as platform a platform size for one dog not provided)
placed with inappropriately matched cage mate (one dog bullies the other - eg., denies access to food or front of cage to see visitors).
placed in a kennel with not opportunity to withdraw from on-going human activity

Dogs experiencing emotional distress may demonstrate:

a low propensity for social interaction (for example dog does not wag tail when spoken to gently or show a playful reaction to high pitch and playful tone)
excessive anxiety upon approach (friendly greeting by constable)
excessive fear aggression upon approach (friendly greeting by constable)
excessive fear and anxiety in the presence of owner
signs of maladaptive (abnormal) behaviour such as:
repetitive behaviours ( for example on-going tail-chasing, pacing, turning in circle, jumping, barking or howling incessantly)
excessive digging or chewing (particularly for tethered dogs).
self mutilation
eating of own stools (also a sign of a deficient diet)
* Dogs may stop repetitive behaviour when distracted by a person or other animal. When maladaptive behaviour is suspected, dog must be observed from afar.

May also display the following body language:
avoidance
dilated pupils
trembling
shaking
yawning repeatedly
whining or excessive vocalizing
sweaty paws (leaving sweaty paw prints on the floor)
repeatedly licking upper lip
sudden shedding
snapping or growling for no apparent reason
seem disoriented
show signs of depression (learned helplessness):
is lethargic
lack of interest in surroundings
cannot be engaged in play
lack of interest in food treats
lack of interest in interesting sounds (squeaky toy)
seems unable to learn even a simple command
will not attempt to defend him/herself if threatened

Freedom to express behaviour that promote well-being - By providing opportunity to engage in normal "pet" behaviour.

Dogs are highly social creatures. To meet their need for food, comfort, health and safety is not sufficient to ensure good welfare. Emotional well-being is an important component of welfare that is achieved by engaging in behaviours natural to their species and those resulting from a long association with humans. Dogs need to have:

free play · play with human-companion (eg., chase ball, fetch)
play with other dogs (particularly important for puppies)
safe exploration of different areas (eg., walks with owner in park, woods)
proximity to human-companion for several hours a day
chewing (eg., rawhide, Kong)
mental stimulation (eg., positive dog training, or participation in dog sports such as agility or fly ball)
physical stimulation (eg., being petted)