Critics say new animal cruelty law has no teeth
By Toby Gorman - Nanaimo News Bulletin - April 29, 2008 | | | |
A new animal cruelty prevention bill passed in the Senate earlier this month is being accused of having no teeth by opponents of the legislation.
Introduced as a private member’s bill in the senate, Bill S-203 was passed to allow harsher penalties for people who abuse and neglect animals.
The problem is, says Nanaimo-Cowichan NDP MP Jean Crowder, just one per cent of people involved in animal cruelty or neglect incidents are actually prosecuted.
“What is the point of having harsher punishment, which is fine, if nobody is being punished?” she said.
Crowder is one of 70 MPs who voted against the bill. One hundred and eighty-nine voted in favour, including Nanaimo-Alberni Conservative MP James Lunney.
Many animal advocacy groups lobbied against the law, claiming it doesn’t make real change from the current legislation that dates back 115 years.
“It raises the current penalty from six months and $2,000 fine to five years in jail and a $10,000 fine,” said Lunney.
“We had to tighten the restrictions and penalties on people who abuse animals.”
Lorraine Chiorando, the manager at the Nanaimo SPCA, said virtually every animal rights organization in the country was opposed to Bill S-203.
“It’s a sad day for animals in this country,” she said.
“This bill still leaves animals open to cruelty and starvation with little chance of prosecution.
“It doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t protect animals the way they need to be protected in the 21st century.”
The bill also allows for training of animals for dog and cock fights and permits the killing of stray and wild animals.
Organizations like the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies have instead backed Bill C-373 – a private member’s bill.
Many animal industry groups lobbied in favour of the law, claiming Bill C-373 would put an end to activities like hunting and fishing and would negatively impact farming, scientific research and other lawful activity regarding animals.
“Animal protection groups made it very clear that isn’t the case,” said Chiorando. “Their concerns aren’t legitimate. There seems to be some kind of communication gap. It seems (Bill S-203) was passed just to make it look like something is being done.”
New animal rights legislation has been dying in the Senate for more than a decade.
“It’s so frustrating,” said Chiorando.
The law would still allow animals to be killed in the pursuit of lawful activities. It would not, however, allow those groups to cause unnecessary pain and suffering.
“Bill S-203 doesn’t reflect modern conditions for how animals are treated,” said Crowder.
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