Farming, fishing, hunting and animal welfare

This summer I attended public hearings on Bill 50 – to Amend the Ontario Society For the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

This proposed legislation is raising some questions for rural and northern Ontario.

One area of concern is that this new animal welfare legislation may compromise the right to hunt, fish, and engage in normal farm and animal husbandry practices.

Various deputants before the Standing Committee on Justice stressed that Bill 50 must not apply to wildlife and activities that include fishing and hunting -- including hunting with dogs. These activities and animals are under the purview of the Ministry of Natural Resources. It was felt that the OSPCA - if it is to be the government-sanctioned agency - should not be involved in, have control over, or interfere in any way with these activities.

As well, it was felt that vague wording in the proposed legislation, and a lack of farm practice understanding, could lead to impractical expectations and orders on farmers.

Case in point is the definition proposed for ‘distress’ --  the state of being in need of proper care, water, food or shelter, or being sick, injured or in pain or suffering or being abused or subject to undue or unnecessary hardship, privation or neglect”.

The proposed definition to some is highly subjective and of concern if the legislation applies to all animals in Ontario -- domestic pets, zoo animals, wildlife and farm animals. Today’s farms host a wide range of farm animals. Their requirements and needs for water, food or shelter differ greatly. Appearances can be deceiving. Also, some veterinary procedures or treatments may cause distress.

It was also pointed out that, section 11.2(3) of the bill states that “no person shall train an animal fight with another animal or permit an animal that the person owns or has custody or care of to fight another animal.”

Farmers with livestock on pasture, particularly sheep, often use one or more dogs to guard their sheep from predator attacks; coyotes, wolves, bears or even other domestic dogs. How will this section be applied to farmers using guard dogs to defend their livestock from attack?

Dogs are also legally used in various forms of hunting in this province. It is not beyond the scope of possibility that in the pursuit of an animal during a hunt, that a dog would come into conflict with another animal.

Thus the committee received a proposal that the bill be amended to read: “No person shall train an animal to fight with another animal or permit and animal that person owns or has custody or care of to fight another animal for the purposes of competition or entertainment.

A number of presenters to the committee advocated the proposed legislation be voted down or amended to protect traditional practices between human beings and other animals. Concern was expressed during committee hearings that aspects of an animal rights agenda could be promoted through this legislation under the guise of animal welfare.

I feel that further consultation – particularly at the regulation stage of this process – and further clarification of how this bill will identify and define ‘distress’ in animals is in order. If not we could be on a slippery slope.