Where The Whispers of Horses in Need are Heard

Transcription

1 Where The Whispers of Horses in Need are Heard

2 To provide care and rehabilitation to abused and neglected horses. We assist members of the community that can no longer care for their horses in an attempt to prevent innocent animals being subjected to the auctions and slaughter. Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue is a privately funded organization that relies on public support and donations.

3 Welland SPCA Agent, Animal Control Officer Welland Humane Society Board of Directors Director Dunnville Humane Society Board of Directors Director of Foster Parenting Director of Investigations University of Guelph Working Towards Equine Science Diploma Municipal Employment 11 years Municipal Law Certificate AMCTO Municipal Administration Program Completion - AMCTO

4 Resident Concerns Residents frustrated with current process They don t know who to call When calls are made, often referred to another agency Animals suffering as a result of process delays Cruelty investigations being compromised (Waterford Case no charges laid) No Agency To Call No Investigator or Agent Available Public Inquiries Directed To O.P.P. O.P.P. Not Trained In Animal Cruelty Hamilton/Burlington Humane Society covering area? Average of 50 calls per year prior to OPP taking over No Funding Provided free service??

5 Not trained in animal husbandry Not trained in SPCA Act process No resources Veterinarian accounts who pays for it? Means to remove animals cages etc. Where do they take the animals once removed? Utilizing valuable resources that protect citizens

6 Animal Control Humane Society SPCA Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

7 Contracted by the local Municipality Can include: Canine control Feline control Wildlife rescue and removal Level of service depends on contract

8 No Affiliation with OSPCA Volunteers Charitable status Funded by donations No Authority to conduct Cruelty Investigations Humane Society name no longer can be used, use for Simcoe has been grandfathered. (OSPCA Act RSO 1990, c Section 10 (1)

9 SPCA Includes: Provincial Office - Newmarket Branches Affiliates

10 The Ontario SPCA Provincial Education & Animal Centre is a resource for Animal Welfare communities and partners across the province and across the country. A province-wide network of 50 plus Communities, the Ontario SPCA (Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is one of the largest, most responsive animal welfare organizations in the country. The Ontario SPCA investigators provide protection for animals across Ontario by responding to animal cruelty complaints and rescuing injured, abandoned and abused animals.

11 Empowered by the Ontario SPCA Act, Inspectors and Agents relieve animal suffering and distress by issuing orders, removing animals and laying charges under the Criminal Code of Canada and the Ontario SPCA Act where circumstances warrant. the Ontario SPCA Act mandates the Society to enforce animal cruelty laws and provides Ontario SPCA Community investigators with police powers to do so.

12 Provincial office in Newmarket provides: Agent and Inspector training Appoint Agents and Inspectors with the authority to conduct cruelty investigations

13 BRANCH Direct report to Provincial office (Newmarket) Funded directly by Provincial office - Newmarket Only 14 in Ontario AFFILIATE Independent Board Affiliate fees paid to Provincial Office Funded by donations and municipal contracts Most common in Ontario Often provides additional services

14 What is Required? Need to be an affiliate or branch to employ an agent Successful completion of training in Newmarket required SPCA Provincial office approves and appoints agents and inspectors providing authorization to conduct cruelty investigations.

15 Brant County (Affiliate) 539 Mohawk Street, P.O. Box 163 Brantford, ON N3T 5M8 Full Service Animal Control, Cruelty Investigations, Public Education, Adoptions Hamilton/Burlington SPCA (Affiliate) 245 Dartnall Road Hamilton, ON L8W 3V9 Cruelty Investigations, Public Education, Adoptions Oxford/Elgin County (Branch) Cruelty Investigations Only Welland & District Humane Society (Affiliate) 60 Provincial Street Welland, ON L3B 5W7 Full Service Animal Control, Cruelty Investigations, Public Education, Adoptions Cambridge & District Humane Society (Affiliate) 1650 Dunbar Road Cambridge, ON N1R 8J5 Cruelty Investigations, Public Education, Adoptions Haldimand County Contract with Welland & District Humane Society

16 Hamilton Burlington SPCA 1 year contract for the provision of Animal Cruelty coverage in Norfolk County Funding Annual fee Fee for service Rationale Familiar with the area Familiar with current ongoing cruelty investigations Allows staff time to investigate other options while providing an immediate solution

17 Long term contract with abutting SPCA Hamilton/Burlington SPCA Brant County SPCA Approach Haldimand County re: shared funding for one affiliate to cover Haldimand and Norfolk to provide full service such as: Animal control including feline, canine and wildlife Cruelty investigations Public education Dog tag sales and collection Animal control bylaw enforcement

18 Animal cruelty generally falls into two categories: neglect, or intentional cruelty. Neglect is the failure to provide adequate water, food, shelter, or necessary care. Examples of neglect include: starvation; dehydration; inadequate shelter; parasite infestations; failure to seek veterinary care when an animal is in need of medical attention; allowing a collar to grow into an animal's skin; confinement without adequate light, ventilation, space or in unsanitary conditions; and failure to trim hoofs or nails resulting in excessive growth (e.g. hoofs curling upwards). In some cases neglect is a result of the owner's ignorance, and can be rectified by law enforcement authorities, like the Ontario SPCA, educating the owner and issuing orders to improve the animal's living conditions. If an owner fails to make the required changes, Ontario SPCA investigators can remove the animal to ensure they receive the necessary care. In cases where the owner no longer wants responsibility for the animal, the owner may surrender ownership to the Ontario SPCA or an affiliated Humane Society. In more severe cases, circumstances may require the Ontario SPCA, affiliated humane societies, or other law enforcement authorities to remove the animals immediately to provide urgent medical care.

19 Equally disturbing as neglect is the brutality of intentional cruelty, involving deliberate physical harm or injury inflicted on an animal. Regretfully, cases of animals being beaten, burned, poisoned or stabbed to death are not uncommon. In some cases neglect or cruelty is the result of people using animals as tools for commercial profit, such as in the cases of puppy mills, dog fighting, cock fighting and illegal slaughterhouses.

20 Look for these common signs of neglect or intentional cruelty witnessed by Ontario SPCA investigators: Wounds on the body. Severely overgrown nails (often curling under) or hooves (often curling upwards). Patches of missing hair. Extremely thin, starving animals with ribs or backbone protruding. Infected eyes that have been left untreated. Limping. Animals who are repeatedly left alone without food and water. Often they are chained up in a yard. Animals who have been hit by cars and have not received veterinary attention. Animals who are kept outside without shelter in extreme weather conditions. An owner kicking, hitting or physically abusing an animal. Animals who cower fearfully or act aggressively when their owners approach. Severe flea or tick infestations left untreated. Animals left in a car on a hot or cold day. Animals crammed into tiny cages in overcrowded conditions. Abandonment (often when pet owners move or by unprofitable farmers).

21 Reptiles with dull, darkened skin, tremors, gaping mouth and excessive saliva, or experiencing difficulty climbing. Aquatic and amphibious creatures kept in tanks with murky water. Illegal trapping of wild animals or animals left for extended periods in traps. Excessive scratching of the head area, shaking of the head and dirt or discharge in ears indicative of a possible ear infection. Chronic diarrhea or vomiting. Animals kept in dirty conditions including being forced to stand in their own urine and excrement. Swellings, such as tumors or abscesses, left untreated. Rabbits with a severe head tilt. Slaughter by untrained individuals. Adequate Shelter

22 In the Criminal Code of Canada, under Cruelty to Animals, Section 445.1(1) states 445.1(1) Every one commits an offence who a) wilfully causes or, being the owner, wilfully permits to be caused unnecessary pain, suffering or injury to an animal or a bird; b) in any manner encourages, aids or assists at the fighting or baiting of animals or birds; c) wilfully, without reasonable excuse, administers a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to a domestic animal or bird or an animal or a bird wild by nature that is kept in captivity or, being the owner of such an animal or a bird, wilfully permits a poisonous or an injurious drug or substance to be administered to it; d) promotes, arranges, conducts, assists in, receives money for or takes part in any meeting, competition, exhibition, pastime, practice, display or event at or in the course of which captive birds are liberated by hand, trap, contrivance or any other means for the purpose of being shot when they are liberated; or e) being the owner, occupier or person in charge of any premises, permits the premises or any part thereof to be used for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (d).

23 Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act Provided under separate cover.

24 Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue Brenda Thompson 1652 Concession 10 Hagersville ON N0A 1H Hamilton Burlington SPCA Keith Scott, Chief Executive officer Vivian LaFlamme Program Manager, Inspector of Animal Protection ext 401 OSPCA Provincial Office Woodbine Avenue, RR 3 Newmarket, ON L3Y 4W1 Phone: Toll Free: ONT-SPCA Fax: Chief Executive Officer, Kate MacDonald Contact: Anne Buonaiuto, Executive Assistant to CEO Phone: ext. 304 abuonaiuto@ospca.on.ca Investigations Connie Mallory, Chief Inspector

25 For taking the time to consider this troubling issue within your community. It is my hope that we can find a solution that is within the municipal budget constraints while providing coverage for animal cruelty within Norfolk County It is our responsibility to protect those that cannot speak for themselves.