Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
 | |
| Abbreviation | OSPCA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1873 |
| Type | Animal welfare organization |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | advocate and public voice, educator and network |
| Headquarters | Newmarket, Ontario |
Region served | Ontario, Canada |
Official language |
English French |
| Website | OSPCA |
The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) is the organizations whose operations include protecting and providing shelter to animals in danger in the province of Ontario.
Ontario SPCA provides services such as high-volume spay/neuter services to Ontario and opening the Provincial Education and Animal Centre. [1]
The animal welfare organization, the Ontario SPCA follows an Open Admission For Life philosophy.[2]
History
OSPCA was founded in 1873 to protect the welfare of animals and children. The secondary role was later given to the Children's Aid Society of Ontario.[3] Its mission includes preventing animal cruelty and supporting animal welfare.[4]
Legislation
Ontario SPCA investigators may enforce any law pertaining to the prevention of cruelty to, and the welfare of, animals. This includes legislation pertaining to animals within the Criminal Code, the principal tool used by investigators to bring cases of extreme cruelty and neglect to court; the Ontario SPCA Act, the provincial legislation that gives Ontario SPCA investigators their policing powers to act on reported instances of animal cruelty.
Federal Legislation
Criminal Code - Cruelty to Animals In the Criminal Code under Cruelty to Animals, Section 445.1(1) states 445.1(1) Every one commits an offence who:
a. wilfully causes or, being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or bird;
b. in any manner encourages, aids or assists at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds;
c. wilfully, without reasonable excuse, administers a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to a domestic animal or bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is kept in captivity or, being the owner of such an animal or a bird, wilfully permits a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to be administered to it;
d. promotes, arranges, conducts, assists in, receives money for or takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or event at or in the course of which captive birds are liberated by hand, trap, contrivance or any other means for the purpose of being shot when they are liberated; or
e. being the owner, occupier or person in charge of any premises, permits the premises or any part thereof to be used for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (d).[5][6][7]
Provincial Legislation
In the province of Ontario, the Ontario SPCA Act mandates the Society to enforce animal cruelty laws and provides Society Branch and Affiliate investigators with police powers to do so.[8][9]
References
- ↑ "Ontario SPCA". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "Backgrounder". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "History". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "Backgrounder". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
- ↑ "Federal Legislation". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "Federal Legislation". Animal Law in Canada. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ↑ "Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c C-46". Canadian Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ↑ "Provincial Legislation". Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ↑ "Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act". Government of Ontario. Retrieved 20 March 2013.