The Honourable Danielle Smith
As the President & Co-Founder of a foster-based CRA Registered Non-Profit animal rescue, I am bringing to your attention the current rescue crisis in Alberta. Animal rescues are ceasing operations on a weekly basis, with facilities consistently operating at full capacity and no visible end in sight. The lack of government support exacerbates the financial strain. Urgent legislative changes are imperative to address the ongoing crisis.
Unregulated breeding operations are a direct contributor to an excess population of adoptable cats, dogs, and other animals. Regrettably, it is the animals who bear the consequences, alongside local rescues and shelters dedicated to their housing and care. Commonly, individuals relinquish hastily purchased dogs or animals with health or behavioral issues stemming from disreputable breeding practices, such as puppy mills. The majority of shelters and rescue organizations depend on volunteer and donation support to execute their essential work, and lenient regulations are placing significant strain on these organizations.
Smaller-scale breeding operations continue to inflict suffering on dogs and puppies. The term "backyard breeder" commonly denotes a smaller-scale breeding enterprise characterized by substandard animal care practices. While these operations may not subject dogs to the same degree of overcrowding or abuse prevalent in typical commercial puppy mills, individual dog breeders still prioritize financial gain over the welfare of animals, thereby exacerbating Canada's pet overpopulation crisis.
Individual breeders, akin to puppy mills, have been documented engaging in fraudulent activities such as concealing the health issues of animals, providing falsified vaccination and veterinary records, misappropriating deposits, and perpetrating bait-and-switch schemes. Typically operating through online platforms, these backyard breeders often vanish when confronted with concerns regarding a puppy's well-being.
The implementation of provincial oversight for dog breeding is essential in order to safeguard the well-being of dogs and puppies and alleviate the strain on rescues and shelters, which are burdened with addressing the repercussions of uncontrolled breeding contributing to the dog overpopulation crisis. Provincial governments have the opportunity to implement a range of policies aimed at addressing and curbing puppy mills and ultimately putting an end to the suffering of dogs and puppies.
1. License all animal breeders. As a part of the licensing regime, there should be strict limits on the number of animals kept and bred, a comprehensive animal welfare plan for the dogs, record-keeping rules, and a pre-inspection before a license is granted.
2. Stringent animal welfare standards must be upheld, encompassing adequate living space, regular exercise, proper shelter, nutrition, hydration, veterinary oversight, gentle handling, social interaction, cleanliness, and the prohibition of ear cropping and tail docking.
3. It is imperative to implement regular, unannounced inspections at breeding facilities. The inspection of licensed breeding facilities is crucial in ensuring uniformity, openness, and adherence to regulations among Alberta breeders. Furthermore, making inspection reports readily available to the public online in a proactive manner is essential.
4. To prevent mass breeding operations and safeguard the well-being of dogs, it is recommended to establish restrictions regarding the maximum number of animals permitted for breeders to keep and the limit on the number of litters a single animal can produce. This measure aims to protect animals from being continually bred throughout their lifetime.
5. The prohibition of the sale of animals in pet stores and on platforms such as Kijiji and Craigslist is advocated. Numerous Canadian municipalities have already implemented restrictions on the sale of cats and dogs in pet stores. Instead, these regions have allowed pet stores to collaborate with shelters and rescue operations to facilitate the adoption of animals in need to suitable homes.
6. In order to raise public awareness regarding the hazards associated with dog breeding, it is recommended that the province takes action to facilitate the dissemination of information. Encouraging citizens to consider adopting animals from shelters and rescue organizations, rather than supporting dog breeding practices, is integral to this effort.
It is unacceptable that puppy mills and backyard breeders are still in operation in modern Canada. At these facilities, mother dogs are confined to cages and forced to breed without proper care, exercise, and socialization. Several investigations and subsequent rescues have revealed the appalling conditions these animals endure, highlighting the need for stronger laws to eradicate this issue.
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