Newmarket, ON, (November 19, 2008) - The Ontario SPCA is pleased to hear the government's announcement yesterday of the passing of Bill C-50, an amendment to the Ontario SPCA Act. Bill 50 was introduced by Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci on April 3, 2008. The Bill now awaits Royal Assent.

Changes to the Ontario SPCA Act include:

• Making it a provincial offence to cause distress to an animal;
• Stiffer penalties, which include jail terms, fines up to $60,000 and lifetime bans on animal ownership;
• Inspection rights at facilities where animals are kept for sale or exhibit;
• Banning animal fighting;
• Allowing the Society to apply for custody of an animal victim while the case is still in the courts; preventing the Society from having to return an animal to the owner.

"The new law mends many of the loopholes in the Ontario SPCA Act," says Kate McDonald, CEO of the Ontario SPCA "We are pleased with the support we have received from the government and their recognition of the importance of animal welfare across this province."

Hugh Coghill, Chief Inspector for the Ontario SPCA adds, "As a registered charity with a mission to facilitate and provide for province-wide leadership on matters relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promotion of animal welfare, this new legislation will allow us to be proactive and provide more education to animal owners, rather than simply reactive to cruelty reports."

Ontario SPCA investigators respond to approximately 15,000 allegations of cruelty annually, in addition to caring for and sheltering tens of thousands of animals that have been neglected, abused or abandoned. The Ontario SPCA is one of the largest and most responsive animal welfare organizations in the country. The Ontario SPCA Act mandates the Society to enforce animal cruelty laws and provides investigators with police powers to do so.

"In our view, Bill 50 is simply the beginning of an ongoing series of changes to modernize existing animal welfare laws," says Hugh Coghill, Chief Inspector for the Ontario SPCA. "There is much more work that needs to be done. The Ontario SPCA will continue to be a leader in future amendments to animal welfare legislation to ensure that ongoing positive changes occur, and that our network of Ontario SPCA Communities continue to speak as one strong and united voice for animal welfare across the province.

To report animal cruelty, please contact the Ontario SPCA at 1-888-668-7722 or visit www.ontariospca.ca to learn more about critical animal welfare issues.

###

Images: "Crash"
www.ontariospca.ca/images/crash01.jpg
www.ontariospca.ca/images/crash02.jpg

B-roll: Ontario SPCA
www.ontariospca.ca/video/ospcabroll.mov
Quicktime required to view: www.apple.com/quicktime/
To download movie: save "page as" to disk

Additional Information: Ontario SPCA
www.ontariospca.ca/docs/Critical_Animal_Welfare_Issues.doc
www.ontariospca.ca/docs/OntarioSPCA_Backgrounder.doc

Ministry links
www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2008/03/c2077.html
http://ogov.newswire.ca/ontario/GPOE/2008/04/03/c2077.html?lmatch=〈=_e.html

To arrange for an interview with the Ontario SPCA please contact:

Alison Cross
Public Relations Manager
1-888-668-7722 extension 305
across@ospca.on.ca