St.Albert Gazette Alberta

Letters to the Editor - November 11, 2006

Animal cruelty laws need teeth

Many Albertans were shocked and outraged to learn of the torture of a Labrador-border collie-cross named Daisy Duke last month in Didsbury.

The poor dog had its legs and mouth bound with duct tape and she was dragged a kilometre behind a vehicle, leaving a trail of blood. As a result of her injuries, she was euthanized and her owner and a juvenile have been charged.

Coincidentally, I had been preparing to reintroduce a private member's bill in the House of Commons on animal cruelty. Earlier versions of my bill were put forward by the government in every Parliament since 1999, but failed to pass when the House and Senate couldn't agree on amendments. My bill, C-373, was introduced on Oct. 30 and it is identical to the former Bill C-50. The current Criminal Code of Canada provisions on animal cruelty have changed very little since 1892 and are hopelessly outdated.

This is an issue that must cut across party differences and I hope to work with MPs from all political parties to ensure its passage. The rules for private members' bills make it difficult to pass them and, therefore, I am asking Canadians to urge the government to adopt this as a government bill.

In the seven years that this bill has been debated, there has been enormous effort to strike the right balance between the need to protect animals from intentional cruelty and the need to recognize the legitimate rights of hunters, anglers, farmers and others who use animals responsibly for sport or their livelihoods. This bill achieves that balance.

Those who engage in serious violent crimes such as serial murder often start by abusing animals, which can be an early indicator of crimes against people. Therefore, effective animals cruelty legislation can allow the justice system to intervene early with people who might go on to other serious crimes.

Please encourage your member of Parliament to work with me on this important initiative. It's time we stand up for our four-legged friends.

Mark Holland, MP, Ajax-Pickering, Ont.