One bill’s short comings and another bill’s solutions to animal abuse
By Nora Livingstone. Best Friends Canada, Editor
Animal cruelty exists. Its one of the things that we have to live with in our society. What we don’t have to live with is the fact that about 99% of animal abusers go unpunished and untreated. Is it because Canada doesn’t care about animals? No, it is because we let our politicians believe we don’t care about animals. Complacent and apathetic voters have made our government think they can get away with anything – this includes ignoring animal abuse and abusers. Its time to let our government know that animals matter to us. The criminal code must be changed.
Our criminal code is sadly, out dated and ill equipped to deal with many things in today’s society. The answer sadly will not be updating our criminal code with Bill S-203. Unfortunately, this weak bill is flawed and doesn’t do much but pacify the small group of animal supporters who are calling the government to act against abuse. Bill S-203 would increase animal abuse penalties by roughly 1% and would not improve the SPCA’s ability to prosecute. The loop holes and outdated wording still exists in this bill so, under the majority of animal abusers would still go unpunished and untreated.
You can read this one page bill which treats animals as unequal members in our society here: (
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/content/Senate/Bills/391/public/S-213/S-213_1/S-213_text-e.htm) The specific problems with the bill can be found on numerous websites. The critics of this bill explain that a major problem is the wording of the bill. Animals are not treated equally as there is talk about cattle, farm animals, wild animals and ‘others’. The public should be demanding a bill that condemns violent acts towards all animals, not just the farmed and hunted ones. There is also gray area on whether it is illegal to train an animal to attack and fight another one.
Currently, there is a cap on the penalties that an animal abuser will face if he or she is convicted of a crime. The maximum fine is $2000 and five years imprisonment. This flaky bill does not increase these punishments; it doesn’t even address things like anger management or psychological examinations.
Bill C-373 is an effective bill which sadly has not gotten the support it deserves. A bill that systematically describes words and terms is needed in the criminal code and that is exactly what Bill C-373 does. Describing things like neglect (“departing markedly from the standard of care that a reasonable person would use.”) and animal (“any vertebrate that is not a human”) is important for prosecuting people who would try to use loop holes to get acquitted from their horrific crimes.
Bill C-373 is a modern bill with modern wording. A bill that drastically updates the criminal code. To read this short but pertinent and efficient document, go here:
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Docid=2450077&file=4 It does not make lawful acts criminal. Hunters, farmers, trappers, fishers and other lawful trade’s people need not worry about this Bill. It only makes unlawful activities criminal, which is something we should all support.
Please go to MP Mark Holland’s website and read more comparisons between these bills.
http://www.markholland.ca/pdfs/s-213%20versus%20c-373.pdf or view his site to read more about the history of both Bills and what he has been doing to alert his fellow MPs about animal abuse in Canada. www. Markholland.ca
What can you do?
First, we as a nation must let out government know that we care about animals. We must speak out for those who cannot speak themselves. We must let our MPs and other government representatives know where we stand on Bill S-203 and Bill C-373. Emailing, calling and sending letters are all very important. To find the contact information for your MP please click on this link.
http://canada.gc.ca/directories-repertoires/direct-eng.html Remember, you can mail your MP for free, no postage necessary!
You can also go directly to WSPAs website and send a pre written letter to your MP just by adding your name to the top and pressing send.
http://e-activist.com/ea-campaign/clientcampaign.do?ea.client.id=23&ea.campaign.id=256 You can also take part in one of the many rallies that are being organized across Canada.
Wild @ Heart Canada is currently organizing a Toronto rally with Animal Rights Kollective II and Cause for Paws.
Other rallies are being organized in other cities including Montreal and Vancouver.
Toronto Rally Against Bill S-203“ CANADIANS FOR EFFECTIVE ANIMAL CRUELTY LEGISLATION
Date: Sunday, March 30
Time: 2pm
Location: Toronto (exact address to be announced)
Please check back often, when more information is known, it will be posted.
Get active; together we can let our government know that animals matter. Demands a better criminal code, animals deserve it!
Pura Vida