HALIFAX – Animal cruelty is not a new problem in Nova Scotia, but charging people for mistreating their pets is becoming more common in the province — in the past two years, the Nova Scotia SPCA has laid 35 charges.
Under new provincial standards that came into effect Tuesday, enforcement officials are also able to write summary offence tickets for violations of new tethering regulations and the Animal Protection Act, with fines ranging from about $200 to $700.
“What we’ve intended to do is hold people accountable with the judicial system for acts of cruelty and abandonment,” said David Ross, chief investigative officer for the Nova Scotia SPCA.
One prominent animal cruelty case happened this year when more than 100 cats were seized from a Dartmouth home. Three people were found guilty in the case and banned from owning pets for 10 years.
“If these people are doing it again and again, we need to find a way to prevent them from owning animals in the future,” said Ross. “The only way to do that is to charge and to bring them before the court, and upon conviction…we ask the court to prevent them from owning animals.”
Animal rights activist Louise Bowden-Leonard said she is happy to see the SPCA laying charges.
“It’s a lot better than what it was…because there are far too many cruelty cases that never make it to prosecution,” she said.
Bowden-Leonard said while laws are important, preventing animal cruelty and changing attitudes begins at home.
Ross said more education is needed to prevent animals from ending up in shelters.
“The vast majority of people commit these acts, and they’re committed in ignorance.”
With files from The Canadian Press
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