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ACT NOW – PUT A STOP TO BILL S-213

The current Animal Cruelty law was adopted in 1892. There have been no changes to this law
since its inception. Bill S-213 which was introduced by Senator John Bryden does not improve
the animal welfare components of the legislation – it simply increases penalties. There are
serious problems with the current animal cruelty law that prevent many animal abusers from
being brought to justice. Today it is virtually impossible to convict in cases of animal neglect,
even where dozens of animals have been left to starve to death. The current law offers inadequate
protection for stray and wild animals. The current law contains confusing language and
considers animal cruelty offences as property offences. And it does not offer special protection
for law enforcement animals. Yet the Senate strongly supports a bill that would not fix any of
these problems, but would only increase the penalty provisions. Bill S-213 is simply 19th century
law adjusted for inflation. It is designed with status quo in mind and will allow crimes
against animals to continue going unpunished.

We urge to write to your Member of Parliament and federal Justice Minister Rob Nicholson
today urging them NOT to support Bill S-213. Instead ask that the government introduce meaningful
and effective legislation. Such legislation would:

Redefine willful neglect to mean, “departing markedly from the standard of care that a
reasonable person would use.”
Make it an offence to kill any animal (owned or unowned) without a lawful excuse.
(Lawful excuses include hunting, fishing, farming, euthanasia and protection of life
and property)
Make it an offence to kill an animal with brutal and vicious intent whether or not the
animal dies immediately.
Include the definition of animal as “vertebrate other than a human being.”
Apply to all vertebrates whether owned or unowned, and would provide special
provisions for the protection of law enforcement animals.
Move animal cruelty out of the property section of the Criminal Code to better reflect
more modern Canadian Values.
Make it an offence to train an animal to fight and receive money for animal fighting
and training.
Contain all the penalties outlined in Bill S-213 and in addition apply to unowned
animals.

Please take a moment NOW to write to your member of Parliament and to the Justice
Minister. Your letter to your MP and to Minster Nicholson does not require any postage if
it is addressed to:
Your MP or Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson
House of Commons
OTTAWA, Ontario
K1A 0A6
For more information, for a Sample letter, please visit the CFHS website at:
http://cfhs.ca/law/what_can_you_do/