Mr Daniell answers, but not to the people who found the frozen dog. As of this posting, they still have not been contacted by anyone at the SPCA. Daniell answered Jeri-Lyn Ratzlaff of AAS instead. A peculiar way of behaving for a CEO we think.
Mr Daniell writes, "If indeed the dog froze to death, the Society will recommend charges to Crown Counsel.". What? Only if the dog actually froze to death? Leaving a sick old dog to die on its chain is not a offence under the Act of causing or permitting an animal to be in distress?
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the distress results from an activity that is carried on in accordance with reasonable and generally accepted practices of animal management.
(3) If a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (1), a justice may, in addition to any other penalty that may be imposed for the offence, prohibit the person from owning or having custody or control of an animal for a period of time specified by the justice.
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act: Offence
24 (1) A person responsible for an animal who causes or permits the animal to be or to continue to be in distress commits an offence.
Or does the SPCA consider chaining dogs for life and death a "reasonable and generally accepted practice of animal management."?
Charges must be laid and Crown urged to accept them and a judge convinced by the SPCA's case that in fact an offence under the PCA act has taken place and the chainer must be penalized to the full extent of the law. If this does not happen, chainers will still be safe from the law as they have always been.
Keep your word Mr Daniell... "The message is clear - if you are inflicting cruelty to animals, including psychological and emotional abuse, you will be charged."
So do it