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 (e.g., 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 thirst, hunger and malnutrition - By ready
access to fresh water and a diet to maintain health and full vigour.
- Food must be of adequate quantity and quality for the dog's
life stage, lifestyle, size and breed to maintain good health (as evidenced by coat
condition, weight, condition of teeth and gums, good level of energy and so on).
- Food must not be contaminated with urine, faeces or other
inedible material, and must be palatable.
- All food dishes and utensils must be kept clean.
- Food stored must be kept covered and containers to be
vermin-proof.
- During group feeding the caretaker must ensure that each
animal receives an adequate share of the food (Caregiver must pay close attention to spot
animals that are not eating and take appropriate action.)
- Dogs must have access to clean potable water at all times,
except where indicated by a veterinarian. (fresh water must be given daily)
- Dogs should be provided with water as needed to avoid thirst
(transport time and conditions must be considered).
- Water containers must be cleaned regularly to control and
prevent disease, be spill proof or fastened to prevent spills and at a height that
prohibits urination in the bowl.
Freedom from physical and thermal discomfort - By
providing an appropriate environment.
When kept outdoors, dog must have access to shelter. Type
of shelter needed must take regional weather conditions into consideration and varies with
age, health, body condition, type of coat, breed, etc.
- Doghouses should provide protection from the elements (i.e.,
with dry bedding, protection from draft, positioned in shady area, water proof).
- Must be sized to allow the dog to move freely, stand, turn
and lie down, but not too big in order to trap animal's body heat to warm space in cold
weather.
- Must be insulated if needed (based on regional differences).
Tethering
Tethering is unacceptable as a permanent method for
preventing a dog to roam outside the property. Caretaker must use other measures such as
fencing or providing an outdoor run to insure the dog remains on the property.
Tethering is acceptable as a temporary method of
restraint when:
- the dog may cause injury to self or other
- while construction of fencing or holding pen other is
underway
Tethering as a temporary method is not acceptable
if:
- dog is exposed to predators
- dog is vulnerable to heat, cold, wind rain, snow (shelter
should be provided)
- ground is littered with items that may cause injury
- dog has restricted access to food, water and shelter (i.e.,
chain not long enough)
- it does not provide adequate separation between feeding,
eating, sleeping and eliminating areas
- dog has reduced opportunity for exercise
- dog is younger than 6 months old
- bitch is in season and dogs have access to her
- bitch about to give birth
When tethered as a temporary method the following
guidelines must be observed:
Tethers should be of the following specifications:
- "choke" type collar shall not be used
- "studded" type collars shall not be used
- A properly fitted leather or nylon collar should be fitted
with a swivel and attached to a tether 3 metres in length minimum. The tether should be
firmly attached to a swivel allowing for a 360° degree anchored at ground level, allowing
the animal to cover the complete circle without tangling.
- Alternatively a running line could be used, it should:
- be a minimum of ten metres in length.
- be metal, not less than 10 mm. in thickness.
- be no higher than ½ metre above ground where
"low" system is used, and shall be not less than 2 metres from ground where a
"high" system is used.
- be free of obstacles, allowing for unobstructed operation
and be removed from embankments, roof tops, etc., in order to avoid accidental hanging of
animal.
- not exceed 300 grams per metre.
- Links of chain shall not exceed an opening of 20 mm.
When a pet dog is kept indoors most of the day, s/he must
be provided with:
- a source of daylight
- adequate amount of clean, fresh water to prevent thirst
- age appropriate toys
- age appropriate bedding ( particularly for seniors)
- an environment free of toxic or otherwise dangerous
substance
- for periods not exceeding 10 hours (may vary by lifestage).
If crated:
- should not exceed 6 - 10 hours per day unless otherwise
indicated by a veterinarian (Varies by lifestage and breed) and must have been accustomed
to crate prior to spending extended periods in it.
- puppies under 6 months should be taken out to eliminate at
minimum every four hours.
Dogs living in animal establishments:
Kennel should:
- have good ventilation systems (12 air changes per
hour)
- be designed such that dog can always find protection from
the elements
- have a heated and dry area (could be flooring, bed board or
indoor part)
- have non-slip flooring such that the dog's movement is not
restricted (can be assessed by observing dog's movement while in kennel)
- be free of waste, debris and faeces
- have an inner sleeping and eating area and outdoor area for
elimination
For all dogs
- Coat should be kept free of mats and be groomed regularly to
prevent heat loss
- Nails should be clipped regularly for comfortable walking
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.
Dogs showing behavioural signs of pain should be seen by a
veterinarian:
- appears abnormally quiet, not alert and withdrawn with stiff
body movements and unwillingness to move.
- may lie still or adopt an abnormal posture (usually in
severe pain)
- may appear restless, show increased alertness, shivering
with increased respirations or panting, is likely to whimper, howl or growl without
provocation (usually in low intensity pain).
- may lick or scratch at painful area, be abnormally
apprehensive or defensive when area is approached.
- The dog may also exhibit some of the following signs:
- anxious glances
- seek cold surface (even in normal temperatures)
- hold its tail between hind legs
- penile protrusion and frequent urination
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 (e.g., 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 (e.g., 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 - e.g., 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 (e.g., chase ball,
fetch)
- play with other dogs (particularly important for
puppies)
- safe exploration of different areas (e.g., walks with owner
in park, woods)
- proximity to human-companion for several hours a day
- chewing (e.g., rawhide, Kong)
- mental stimulation (e.g., positive dog training, or
participation in dog sports such as agility or fly ball)
- physical stimulation (e.g., being petted)
