Parliament leaves animals in pain

Times Colonist
Wednesday, August 03, 2005

Introduced in 1999, agreement on the animal cruelty bill was finally reached in June 2003, but it died when Parliament prorogued. It was reintroduced in the last session by Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, who noted "there is real concern out there."

Meantime hunting and trapping continue -- much of it trophy hunting to boost tourism. Puppy mills proliferate; seals continue to be "harvested"; cock fighting still exists.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency shows little concern for animal welfare -- 2.3 million animals died in transit and millions of healthy birds were slaughtered last year.

Those who feel they have the right to maltreat any animal they "own" are generally undeterred by the penalties handed down in those cruelty cases that make it to court.

The bill proposes that animals cease to be "property" and creates a new section just for animal cruelty. It makes it an offence to kill an animal brutally or viciously, increases the present penalties for killing, harming or neglecting an animal, has provision for a lifetime ban on owning an animal and makes fighting of all animals an offence.

The concept of animals as sentient beings, capable of feeling pain, should not have to be mandated in this day and age. We pride ourselves on being a caring and humane society. How then, is it possible for a law that would protect Canada's animals from cruelty and abuse to be held up in the parliamentary process for six long years?

Val McWilliams,

Nanaimo.