Humane Canada
851 Industrial Avenue. Suite M100 K1G 4L3 Ottawa, ON, Canada

Please join us in wishing a happy 33rd anniversary to our member society in Ontario, the Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) who celebrated this milestone on April 4th. Since 1888, the OHS has been the leading organization providing a safe haven for sick, injured and homeless animals in Ottawa. In January 1888, a small group of ladies formed the Women’s Humane Society of Ottawa. This organization enforced the new animal protection laws and focused on bettering the lives of neglected ...children by lobbying for legislation to provide for foster homes. In 1896, this group evolved into the Ottawa Humane Society and the Children’s Aid Society was established to assist needy children in the Ottawa community. Today, the Ottawa Humane Society’s mandate covers a broad spectrum of animal welfare concerns. The organization’s priorities include public education and pet population control, through which it seeks to reduce the number of stray animals whose final solution is often destruction. We invite humane societies and SPCAs in Canada to join forces with us by becoming members of Humane Canada. Learn more at https://humanecanada.ca/members/become-a-member/

Breaking news! The federal government has accepted the recommendations of Humane Canada, Society for Humane Science and Animal Justice to update the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA) to support alternatives to animal testing. The Liberal government is proposing long-awaited changes to an environmental protection law (Bill C-28) that includes replacements for tests conducted on animals, and support for alternatives to animal testing. This is a step in the right ...direction to see an end to animal testing in Canada. A poll from January 2020 revealed that an overwhelming 88% of Canadians would support a federal law to end cosmetics tests on animals. Support for a ban crosses party lines and generations. We thank Environment Minister, The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson for accepting our recommendations, and we also thank our colleagues at Animal Justice and Society for Humane Science for working together with us on this proposal. Please share this victorious milestone!

Last month new amendments to the Divorce Act 1985 came into force. The amendments shift the focus away from custody and access and instead put the best interests of the child first. In determining the best interests of the child for the purposes of making a parenting order or a contact order with a child, the court now considers a list of factors set out in Section 16(3) including family violence and its impact. Specifically, the definition of family violence includes:... threats to kill or harm an animal or damage property; and the killing or harming of an animal or the damaging of property. This change signals legislative recognition of the Violence Link. For example, in theory, where a spouse A has used threats to kill or harm a family pet as a means to control Spouse B, the court can take this into account in assessing the ability or willingness of Spouse A to take care of the child. This is a welcome step in the right direction. Learn more about our work to put an end to the violence link between vulnerable humans and animals at http://humanecanada.ca/violence-link

"Canadians know animals suffer on factory farms and they want it to stop. (Is it any wonder that the plant-based food industry is booming?) If farmers and retailers break their promises on gestation crates and battery cages, hundreds of thousands of pigs and millions of laying hens will suffer. The Retail Council of Canada (RCC) needs to stand by its previous commitments on farm-animal welfare, not only to show it cares about what consumers want but because it’s the ethical t...hing to do." writes Peter Fricker, projects and communications director at Vancouver Humane Society, one of our associate organizations. This is in response to the recent announcement by the RCC backtracking on its commitments to phase out eggs sourced from hens kept in battery cages, and pork from pigs housed in gestation stalls. Read full opnion piece here: https://www.straight.com//peter-fricker-farming-and-grocer

This week we’d like to celebrate and honour the work of Animal Care and Control Officers. Their role is to maintain public safety by enforcing animal licensing laws and humane care regulations while on patrol. Working as an animal control officer can be both challenging and rewarding, and it requires handling all kinds of animals, from pets to wildlife. These officers often witness difficult cases on a daily basis. Dealing with cases of animal cruelty, abandonement and negle...ct are not unusual in this profession. This is an emotionally taxing profession but highly rewarding as well. For this reason, we honour and celebrate their important role in our society. Pictured here is Brad Nichols, who has been with the Calgary Humane Society Protection and Investigations Department since 2005. Thank you for everything you do Animal Care and Control Officers!

URGENT ACTION NEEDED Health Canada has announced that it will not be taking steps towards incorporating humaneness considerations into the pesticide risk assessment framework. What is the issue? For over two years hundreds of concerned Canadians and over 50 animal welfare organizations, including Humane Canada, provided commentary on public consultations to ask for the banning of three inhumane poisons used to kill large mammals, such as coyotes, wolves and black bears.... According to @cvma.acmv "The use of inhumane methods of pest control should not be condoned..The ingestion of some pesticides [e.g., strychnine, Compound 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate), Avitrol (4-Aminopyridine), and Furadan (flowable carbofuran)], results in severe pain, uncontrollable seizures, and death by asphyxiation." Please click on the link below and add your name to ask your MP and The Right Honourable Patty Hajdu Canada's Minister of Health, to to consider cruelty to animals in its upcoming review of three lethal poison licenses. THANK YOU https://humanecanada.ca/ban-inhumane-poisons/

As people continue working and learning from home, the demand for puppies remains steady. Starting today, and every day for the next 14 days, we will be posting one essential question that you should ask a breeder to ensure you’re not inadvertently supporting a puppy mill operation, in your search for a pup. Question # 1: How long have you been breeding dogs? This is an important question to ask any breeder. The more experience and involvement in breed clubs, shows and ...competitions, the better. Beware of breeders who breed dogs of more than one or two breeds, for example: chi-poms (chihuahua and pomeranian) or yorkie-poos (yorkshire terrier and pomeranian), just to name a few. Animals with detrimental genetic traits or known predispositions should not be bred as they can pass these on to their progeny. Breeding individuals with such traits or predispositions has the potential to affect multiple generations and, thus, a large number of animals. Please know that Humane Canada supports the breeding of companion animals only when it is undertaken by those who are committed to providing a high level of care and to supporting their animals’ physical and psychological well-being. Please save, like, and share this post. Help us reach more people so we can put an end to puppy mills together. For more information, please visit: https://humanecanada.ca/what-to-know-before-getting-a-dog/

We've loved seeing your beautiful let's pictures within the past couple of days. There's still time to help raise funds for animal welfare in Canada, by posting pictures of your beloved pets. Husky is donating $5 for every picture posted. Please check their post below to learn more.... P.s. don't forget to use the hash tag #MyHuskyPuppyLove Thank you!

Hello Facebook Friends - show us your love for your four-legged family members! You can help raise much needed funds for Humane Canada today. Husky is offering to donate $5 every time someone shares an image of their beloved companion animal (could be a husky - or a dog - or a cat - or any animal you love). If you share your loved one and tag both Husky and use the hashtag #myhuskypuppylove today (valentine's day) or tomorrow - you could help generate up to $10,000 toward ending animal cruelty, improving animal protection and promoting the humane treatment of all animals. Thank you!

Can animals experience romantic feelings? In honour of Valentine’s Day, we try to answer this question. Scientists have not yet come to a definite opinion about this topic. However, according to the publication Psychology Today, there is evidence that animals are capable of experiencing the same range of emotions as humans. ... Many of our smaller breathen, including wolves, gibbons, beavers, and swans, are monogamous and pair for life. Whether Valentine’s Day is celebrated in the animal world or not, we want to wish you and your loved ones pets included of course a Happy V-Day! Spread the love!

Senator Murray Sinclair is introducing #TheJaneGoodallAct (Bill #S218) to the Canadian Senate. WATCH LIVE SPEECH. https://senparlvu.parl.gc.ca//PowerBrowse/20201119/-1/9773

Humane Hearts members are people who believe in the work that Humane Canada is doing to advance animal welfare at the national level. Technology is changing the way Canadians give to the causes they believe in. Through the Humane Hearts monthly giving program, Robert ensures his monthly gift is automatically withdrawn from his bank account or his credit card on the first day of every month. No need to send reminders or to mail out cheques. Our Humane Hearts monthly giving pr...ogram is the most cost-efficient way to support our mission to end animal cruelty, improve animal protection ad promote the humane treatment of all animals. Once you've signed up as a Humane Hearts monthly donor, we automatically deduct your donation once a month, then at the end of the year, you will receive one consolidated tax receipt for your financial contributions to Humane Canada. We thank every member of our Humane Hearts program who ensures we can continue advancing the welfare of animals with a strong national voice, promoting animal welfare interests and concerns to government, policymakers, industry, and the public. Learn more at https://humanecanada.ca/humanehearts/

For the first time in four years, dogs are heading back to the White House thanks to president-elect Joe Biden. One of Biden's German shepherds, Major, will also make history as the first rescue dog to live at The White House. The Biden family adopted Major from the Delaware Humane Association in November 2018, 10 years after the couple welcomed their first German shepherd, Champ.... We are so happy to welcome Major to the Biden family, and we are grateful to the Delaware Humane Association for their work in finding forever homes for Major and countless other animals, the Bidens said in a statement at the time. Humane Canada welcomes Major and Champ and celebrates this historical moment for shelter animals. We hope Major brings attention to the importance of supporting our humane societies, SPCAs, municipal shelters and local rescues who are society's safety nets for animals. What will Major's and Champ's title be? "First Dogs of the United States"? Share this heartwarming news to bring some much-needed smiles to everyone on social media after the past stressful week!

BREAKING NEWS This morning Senator Murray Sinclair announces a new Bill to better protect elephants and great apes while banning ivory! Called "The Jane Goodall Act" in honour of the world renown primatologist Dr. Goodall herself will be at the press conference. Watch live press conference at 9:30 am EST here: https://www.cpac.ca/en/. The ground breaking legislation builds on Bill 203 and the phasing out of whale and dolphin captivity for entertainment. The Jane G...oodall Act would: Ban new captivity of great apes and elephants unless licensed for their best interests, including individual welfare and conservation, or non-harmful scientific research; Ban the use of great apes and elephants in performance, including elephant rides; Establish legal standing for great apes, elephants, whales and dolphins in sentencing for captivity offences, allowing court orders for relocation or improved conditions; Empower government to extend all the protections to other species of captive, non-domesticated animals such as big cats by regulation with the Noah Clause; and Ban the import of elephant ivory and hunting trophies. Stay tuned we will keep you updated every step of the way! Share this message to spread the good news!

Breaking News - Humane Canada is honoured to be appointed to the new multi-disciplinary advisory table established by the Ontario Government today to provide ongoing advice to improve animal welfare across the province. Members of the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Advisory Table include some of Ontario's leading academics and experts as well as organizations representing multiple disciplines including advocacy, industry, agriculture, sheltering, veterinarian care and enforcement. https://news.ontario.ca//ontario-establishes-advisory-tabl

Who is your favourite animal welfare advocate? Who do you think has knowledge or experience to share with a large group of like-minded animal welfare advocates? Who do you know who is making a difference for animals in Canada?... Tag them below and let them know that there's only ONE WEEK LEFT to apply to speak at our 2021 Online National Animal Welfare Conference, taking place April 6-8, 2021. Our program committee is looking for abstract submissions in the following topics: Community Based Animal Sheltering Challenges to effective legal protection for animals Canine Welfare and Behaviour Diversity, Inclusion and Reconciliation Farmed Animal Welfare & Behaviour Feline Welfare and Behaviour Learn more and apply today at https://humanecanada.submittable.com/submit Don't forget to tag your suggestions below

We know what happens when our beloved companion animals get into mischief or are feeling a little down. These incidents may warrant a trip to the vet, and, if not covered by a pet insurance policy, costs can get out of hand. Pet insurance gives you peace of mind and lets you focus on your pet’s health and happiness. When you sign up for a pet insurance policy with Petsecure, Canada's pet insurance, you can help advance animal welfare in our country, by adding a donation to yo...ur policy through their "Help a Pet Program". Find out more through the link in our bio - Shop for Animal Welfare. Thank you Petsecure for partnering with Humane Canada to assist with our mission to drive positive, progressive change to end animal cruelty, improve animal protection and promote the humane treatment of all animals. Find out more at https://www.petsecure.com/

The link between violence against vulnerable humans and animals is clear. On November 19th, we are hosting an online workshop for professionals involved in anti-violence work in New Brunswick. This workshop is an opportunity for collaboration to act holistically to better support victims, keep families together and reduce the vulnerability of animals and people. We'd like to take this opportunity to thank our sponsors for this online event, PetSmart Charities, Greater Moncton... SPCA / SPA du Grand Moncton and New Brunswick SPCA. Thanks to our presenting sponsor, PetSmart Charities of Canada, registration to this workshop is FREE on a first come, first served basis. (for professionals in New Brunswick only). Find out if you qualify for a free registration and register today at https://humanecanada.swoogo.com/workshops/747868

We are grateful for corporate partners such as 24PetWatch Be prepared for the unexpected in the event of an emergency, while knowing you are helping provide companion animals the best care possible, everyday. Pets Plus Us makes an ‘In Memoriam’ donation to Humane Canada to honour the memory of their members’ companion animals (covered by their policies), when they pass away. Established in 1998 with a mission to ‘bring vitality to lives, furry and otherwise’, Pethealth Inc. ...offers comprehensive pet health insurance, RFID microchip identification, lost pet recovery services, and they are an international leader in animal welfare management software, operating these services through Pets Plus Us and Chameleon, as well as the 24Pet family of brands, including 24PetWatch, and PetPoint. To learn more, please visit: https://www.24petwatch.com/