In the News
"Humane society has concerns about Animal Protection Act"
(Copyright 2008 Whitehorse Star. All rights reserved.)
Despite calling the move to update the Animal Protection Act "positive" in an interview earlier this month, Andrea Lemphers, past president of the Humane Society Yukon, has several reservations about what's in the fine print.
"Unfortunately, only our additional comments were addressed in the letter to the editor and we actually had submitted extensive comments on the proposed amendments," Lemphers said today of the society's letter, which appeared in the Star on Monday. (Star staff did not find that submitted PDF file until this morning.)
Among her primary concerns is that wildlife and exotic animals are not addressed.
"The Wildlife Act talks about harassment of animals but it doesn't deal with cruelty," she said.
"We would recommend that the (Yukon) government use the Alberta definition of 'animal', which does not include a human being."
Lemphers said this would cover all animals, exotic animals and wildlife, not only animals in captivity, as is included in current amendments, which are out for consultation.
"By excluding exotic animals and wildlife from protection from distress, we think shows a lack of vision."
Hunting, trapping and fishing would be considered accepted practices, added Lemphers, but not when people cause unnecessary suffering.
"This is (an animal) protection act, so why are we singling out some animals?"
The society, said Lemphers, does not support the exemption of "pest control," which it believes would cause problems.
"A very clear and concise definition of pest would have to be established. .. with regard to what would constitute inhumane treatment of said pest," she continued.
Though the society agreed with changes defining abandoned animals, thereby allowing animal protection officers to take them into custody, Lemphers said the group would like to see the act make abandonment a criminal offence.
The society also argued that the maximum fine for breaching the new act -- increased from $500 to $10,000 -- be brought in line with the current Wildlife Act's maximum fine of $50,000.
"We don't support the premise that a wild animal should legally be more valuable than an animal, as defined by the Animal Protection Act," she said.
With respect to harmonizing the protection act with other legislation, Lemphers said the society wants the new act to take precedence over the Dog Act and Highway Act.
As changes stand, the new Animal Protection Act only prevails over the Pound Act and Security Act.
"By establishing the Animal Protection Act as prevailing legislation, the government will eliminate confusion between the acts and send a strong message to the public that they are serious about animal protection," the humane society submitted in its comments to the government.
Credit: The Daily Star