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The Winnipeg Humane Society Stonewalled by Justice Committee in Fight for Animal
Rights
(Winnipeg)- (February 13, 2008)
The Winnipeg Humane Society has been denied the chance to make a presentation
to the Justice Committee to stop the passage of Bill S-203. This Bill is
supposed to update the Criminal code legislation relating to animal cruelty
but it falls far short of the mark. “Its time to bring our laws relating
to animals into the 21st century and out of Victorian times” says Vicki Burns,
Executive Director of The Winnipeg Humane Society, “If the Michael Vick case
had happened in Canada, the deficiencies in our Criminal Code would not have
allowed him to be charged. Bill S-203 does nothing to change that.”
The Winnipeg Humane Society is adding their voice to the thousands of Canadians
who are calling on Parliament to make meaningful changes to the Criminal
Code related to animal cruelty. Those changes include:
- Taking animals out of the property section of the Code and putting them into
an animal section. Currently if a person commits an act of cruelty towards
a stray (un-owned animal) they cannot be charged under the Criminal Code.
- Changing the requirement for proof of “wilful neglect” to “negligence”, as it
has been difficult for prosecutors to prove the person’s intent. An example
would be the Saskatchewan farmer who allowed more than 30 sheep to starve
to death, even though he had been warned several times by the local SPCA.
Although he was charged, the judge found him not guilty as he did not feel
it was proven that the farmer had intended to starve the animals.
- Currently it is not illegal to train animals to fight or to make money from
animal fighting. This is the loophole that Michael Vick would have benefited
from in Canada. We are calling for legislation that makes the training
of animals for fighting purposes or the making of money from animal fighting
to be illegal.
“Cruelty to animals is part of the cycle of violence in our society. We know
that Prime Minister Harper is an animal lover. He fosters cats for the Ottawa
Humane Society.” said Burns, “We are calling on the Prime Minister to get
serious about putting meaningful laws in place to address cruelty to animals
and to break the cycle of violence.”
Click here to download our Presentation to The Standing Committee on Justice
and Humane Rights. Bill S-203
The WHS urges the public to contact Prime Minister Stephen Harper and stop Bill
S–203:
By e-mail to pm@pm.gc.ca
Fax: 613-941-6900
Write: Office of the Prime Minister
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa
K1A 0A2
Stop the Suffering
Dogs and Cats are being skinned alive for garments, trims & toys.
Next time you’re thinking of buying a coat with a fur trim, whether it says faux or real, if it is made in China, it could be the fur of a cat or dog.
Millions of cats and dogs are being subjected to horrific abuse before they are killed for fur garments and toys, which are sold here in Canada. You can do something to stop this sickening torture. Now’s the time to act!
HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:
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Inform and educate store management if you think they are selling what could be dog or cat fur
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Write, call or email you MP! http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/people/house/PostalCode.asp
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Start a petition at your work, church, social group or within your friends and family
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Boycott Chinese fur and/or the stores that carry it
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Write the Chinese Ambassador and urge him to stop this cruel treatment
His Excellency Lu Shumin
Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Canada
515 St. Patrick Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 5H3
E-mail: chinaemb_ca@mfa.gov.cn
To learn more, visit Animal Watch Manitoba
Click here to read the article recently posted in the Herald
