Saskatchewan’s chief veterinary officer says there are no plans to actively license and inspect kennels after 14 dogs died at a facility in Saskatoon, prompting calls for tougher regulations.
Dr. Betty Althouse said provincial regulations refer to the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association code of practice for kennels, but there is no requirement for operators to use those standards.
“If there was a complaint or an investigation, that would be the standard that would be used as the expectation of care,” said Althouse.
“If someone is following that code, they could not be prosecuted. But they are not required to follow the code.”
READ MORE: Autism service dog one of 14 dead at Playful Paws Pet Center in Saskatoon
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s code of practice for kennels outlines humane care for dogs, including proper sanitary conditions, space for each animal, as well as nutritious, contaminant-free food and adequate potable water.
The dogs died on the weekend at the Playful Paws Center. Officials with the kennel said on their Facebook page that a rooftop heating unit malfunctioned.
The code of practice for kennels says the minimum allowable temperature for an indoor facility is 10 C, except for Nordic breeds. The suggested maximum temperature is 27 C.
Dr. Sherlyn Spooner, with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, said the group would love to see the kennel code become law, but added that’s not the association’s role as a non-governing body.
“Each province has to decide what they want to do,” she said in a phone interview from Montreal.
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British Columbia has said it will adopt the association’s kennel code of practice and legislation is expected next year. Quebec developed its own code, said Spooner.
The current code was written in 2007 and is being updated. Spooner hopes it will be ready by the end of the year.
“So let’s say Saskatchewan decides to put it into legislation, they don’t have to reinvent the wheel at that point. They don’t have to do six years of work. The document is there,” said Spooner.
READ MORE: ‘Glaring’ issues previously brought forward to Playful Paws months before 14 dogs die
The Animal Legal Defense Fund and the Saskatoon SPCA are also calling for more regulations.
The fund ranks Saskatchewan 11 out of 13 provinces and territories when it comes to animal protection laws. Fund spokeswoman Sophie Gaillard says improvements need to be made to provincial legislation.
“That’s really the key part, is to make the standards mandatory, whether a province decides to enact its own standards or to just adopt the standards that already exist and that were created by an industry,” Gaillard said in a phone interview from Montreal.
“The key is make them obligatory.”
Patricia Cameron, executive director of the Saskatoon SPCA, says the organization has been talking with the Ministry of Agriculture for more than a year about improvements to the Animal Protection Act.
“I think what we’re hearing from our community is that they want to ensure that people are held responsible for the care of animals and that a lot of them were surprised to hear that this (code) is simply a recommendation rather than a requirement,” said Cameron.
Cameron says the standards from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association are a good code of practice.
The Saskatoon SPCA is investigating the deaths at the Playful Paws Center. The SPCA will then work with prosecutors to determine if there is sufficient evidence to lay charges.
In the meantime, Althouse urged pet owners to check facilities themselves.
“People who are keeping dogs at a kennel facility should actively check, ask questions, ensure how the kennel is operating and be comfortable with where they’re leaving their pets.”
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