Welcome to the Bay of Islands SPCA

If you're tired of hearing about animals getting abused and their abusers not getting punished because the provincial animal protection legislation is inadequate in Newfoundland, there's something simple you can do to help.

 

The Animal Protection Act in Newfoundland and Labrador is very out of date. We want to send a message to Minister Kathy Dunderdale, the Provincial Minister responsible for bringing in the new legislation, that this needs to be done soon.  If the Minister gets enough email messages, it will move up her priority list. So dig out your address book and get other people to send this email too. Here’s what to do - 3 steps!

Dear Minister Dunderdale,

 

As the Minister responsible for the Animal Protection Act, we urge you and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to act quickly to bring in new, rigorous animal welfare legislation this Spring, 2010. Fines and penalties under the current Act that dates from the 1970s, are so inadequate that they are no longer considered a deterrent.

 

One of the most stark examples of the inadequacies associated with the current legislation is the current minimum fine of $50 for persons convicted of animal cruelty and abuse. This is woefully inadequate. In the new legislation, there needs to be a substantial increase in fines and penalties for persons convicted of animal cruelty and abuse.

 

We urge you and members of your legislative team to model Newfoundland and Labrador’s new Animal Protection legislation after Alberta and Nova Scotia’s animal protection legislation.  Under the current Act, we allow people to chain dogs on without any social interaction. Not only is this cruel, it is dangerous, as studies show that these dogs eventually go mad at the end of the chain and will attack, if and when they break away.

I respectfully request a response from you about the status of the new animal welfare legislation and when it will be enacted.

 

Sincerely,
Your Name