The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) is a lobbyist group of individuals who all benefit in some way from the sale of animals in pet stores across Canada. Their Board of Directors is made up almost entirely of pet store owners, and they are affiliated with a number of other Canadian animal-related groups, including several SPCA's (the BCSPCA being one of them). Their extensive list of members includes the Hunte Corporation (the largest puppy broker in N.America), a large variety of pet stores, reptile breeders, and pet supply companies. From PIJAC's web site:
Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) is the world’s largest pet trade association, representing all segments of the pet industry:
retailers,
PIJAC, whose mission is to ensure the availability of companion animals to sustain the entire pet industry, focuses on education, information and governmental issues involving pet stores, companion animal supply and restrictions or obstacles to pet ownership.
-To represent and promote the interests of all segments of the pet industry.
wholesale/distributors,
companion animal suppliers,
manufacturers,
manufacturers’ representatives,
hobbyist groups and other trade organizations.
PIJAC's Mission
-To monitor legislation and regulation affecting the pet industry at all levels of government and to support or oppose enactment of such legislation and regulations in the best interest of the pet industry and the public.
-To promote research into the breeding, care, feeding, handling, importation and maintenance of pets.
-To collect, analyze, publish, and distribute information of interest to the pet industry and the public.
-To promote the humane treatment of animals by everyone.
-To establish appropriate and generally acceptable standards of animal care within the pet industry and to promote recognition and observance of such standards.
-To promote public recognition of the importance of the pet industry and the value of the services it provides.
-For the attainment of the above objectives, to provide for the holding of pet industry trade shows, lectures, symposiums, exhibitions, meetings, classes and conferences.
-To receive and maintain a fund or funds and apply from time to time all or part thereof and/or the income therefrom toward the attainment of the above objectives.
-To educate consumers on responsible pet care and ownership.
-To educate pet retailers, distributors and breeders on responsible care and handling procedures.
-To encourage programs to develop a better understanding of our animal friends, their environments and specifically their ability to coexist in pet/pet owner relationships.
This list of objectives deals entirely with making sure animals remain a viable "industry" in Canada and that the supply of pets is not diminished through government regulations. Despite PIJAC's claim to be providing education (which is nearly impossible to prove or quantify)and promoting the humane treatment of animals, there does not appear to be any mechanism on their website for enabling public complaints about the pet stores and other organizations who are PIJAC members. In fact, their web site specifically states that "Membership in PIJAC is available to any person or firm involved in the pet industry" and the only criteria for joining appears to be one's ability to pay the small $35-70 fee.
An example of this can be demonstrated by looking at a prominent Lower Mainland BC pet store, who the BCSPCA and AAS have been receiving complaints about for many years. The public is generally disgusted by the conditions in which the animals are kept, yet what is ever done?
From the offending pet store's web site:
"We work closely with our Veterinarians to care for our animals. We are also a member of PIJAC (Pet Industry Joint Advisory Committee) which regulates how to care and house our pets. We maintain our animals in PIJAC designed and approved cages. These cages are fully disassembled and disinfected daily. We have NEVER had any occurrences where and puppy has be hurt by being housed in one of these cages. Our animal rooms are provided with a separate ventilation system to ensure the best air quality. Veterinarians are consulted whenever required to care for any sick animals. All Puppies get a chance to run at least twice a day, plus whenever customers wish to view a specific animal."
This is a clear example of how this store, by being a member of PIJAC, is attempting to make the public believe the store conditions are acceptable. It implies that PIJAC has some measure of control over conditions in pet stores, and it goes so far as to say that PIJAC "regulates" them. But if this were the case, then PIJAC would provide a way for the public to complain to them about these stores, and they would revoke memberships based on these public complaints. Even more disturbing is the knowledge that another Lower Mainland pet store who has also had complaints made about the disgusting conditions they keep their animals in, is owned by a PIJAC National Board member.
In another section of the PIJAC web site, they make reference to their relationship with a variety of organizations, including the BCSPCA:
AFFILIATIONS
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Here is a brief list of the different associations PIJAC Canada is involved with:
Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
Canadian Association of Animal Welfare Administrators.
Canadian Kennel Club.
Canadian Association of Aquarium Clubs.
Parrot Association of Canada.
British Columbia Association of Pharmacists.
British Columbia Veterinary Medical Association.
British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.All their shelters are using our Animal Husbandry Manuals.
Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.
Alberta Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
City of Calgary Animal Control Services.
City of Winnipeg Animal Control
Ontario Association of Herpetologists.
Humane Society of Ottawa-Carleton.
Ontario Exotic Pet Owners Association
Ottawa Amphibian and Reptile Association.
Ottawa Ferret Association.
Quebec Society of Herpetologists.
Quebec Academy of Veterinarians.
PEI Humane Society.
Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Nova Scotia Amphibian and Reptile Society
New Brunswick Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
It seems backwards that PIJAC is advising the BCSPCA about animal care guidelines in SPCA facilities, when the SPCA is supposed to enforce the law and ensure that pet stores are maintaining proper animal care standards.
The reality about what PIJAC really is, and what it stands for, can best be sumarized by this section of its web site:
CHANGES IN THE PET INDUSTRY WILL AFFECT YOUR BUSINESS. SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE A VOICE?
Who represents you when governments wants to change legislation or regulations that govern your industry?
Who can you turn to when you need credible information and expertise on pet-industry issues?
Who provides education programs and information — at a discount to members — designed to improve your knowledge and increase your business? *Note:this is underlined on the PIJAC web site.
PIJAC Canada is the only trade association that represents all segments of the Canadian pet industry including:
retailers
manufacturers and distributors
livestock dealers, breeders and trainers
veterinarians
groomers
hobbyists
non-profit organizations
shelters and pounds
Perhaps even more revealing, is this acknowledgement by PIJAC that pet stores are a business affiliate with pounds, shelters, non-profits and SPCA's.
None of this can be called real animal welfare, it's just the enabling cycle that allows consumers to own and dump pets, and groups who affiliate themselves with PIJAC should take a long hard look at the implications of such a relationship.
PIJAC plays the familiar education card, which is commonly used by animal breeders to avoid the restrictions of local pet bylaws, thereby allowing them to "display" (sell) their animals, and so long as it's deemed educational, they get away with it.
Two years ago PIJAC launched a "Retail Store Certification" program, which is designed to inspect and approve of satisfactory conditions in pet stores. The program is voluntary and is designed to increase consumer confidence when they shop, but as of June 31,2004 there were only two locations in all of Canada who were certified, both of which are located in Quebec.