Thank you for your email sent to Honourable Darrell Dexter on June 12, 2013, regarding the tethering of dogs. As Minister of Agriculture, Premier Dexter has asked that I respond to you on his behalf.
The Animal Protection Act (the Act) currently states that no person shall cause an animal to be in distress and no owner, or person in charge of an animal, shall permit an animal to be in distress. If an animal is tethered in such a way as to cause it distress, action can be taken to alleviate the distress and/or hold those responsible accountable.
Distress encompasses all of the concerns you have raised in your letter, including failing to provide a dog with adequate shelter or protection from injurious heat or cold, failing to provide veterinary care or medical treatment, abusing the dog, allowing it to suffer injury, sickness and undue hardship. Our current animal protection act applies to these exact situations, whether the dog is tethered or not. In order for the appropriate authorities to become involved, these sorts of problems must be reported. In the case of distress to dogs, the appropriate authority is the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Yours truly,
John MacDonell
Minister of Agriculture
So in his letter the honourable John MacDonnell is saying that current legislation we already have gives the SPCA the power to deal with the tethering of dogs and the suffering that they go through on a daily basis - and that we don't need additional laws to help chained dogs.
If that's the case, why are so many dogs in our province (seemingly) still suffering silently in backyards tied to doghouses - even after having been visited - sometimes on numerous occasions by SPCA constables?
And why is it that the NS SPCA says that there number two most often call is for tethered dogs in distress? Why are they leaving so many dogs behind?
On the Facebook group that I copied the above communication from - "People for Dogs" - "a small group of advocates who are concerned about the lack of legislation and enforcement to help permanently tied/tethered/penned dogs in Nova Scotia" - a group that's actually not so small anymore because the group numbers almost 4,000 now - there are 63 comments on the thread that this email from - and one of the comments is from a former president of the Nova Scotia SPCA and he says of Mr MacDonnell's letter - " The animal has to be in Medical distress in order for the SPCA to charge the person. If an animal does not have water and the SPCA shows up and the animal is not in distress then they cannot lay the charge and or seize the animal, or if they do the charge will not stick. He is either mislead or misrepresenting the truth."
As well - what constitutes distress? Nearly dead? Or just without water?
That would probably be where regulations would come into play - but the fact is - that the honourable John MacDonell has not passed/proclaimed the changes to the Animal Cruelty Act that were promised months ago.
Why is he holding back? Can anybody tell us? With an election coming up - I think these are good questions to ask any candidates who come up and ask us for their vote.
I think it's a little late for the Minister of Agriculture to be continuing to pawn this problem off onto the NS SPCA - he needs to stop misleading himself and the public - and proclaim the Animal Protection Act so that work on the regulations can begin - so that teeth can put into things like the definition of distress - so that when SPCA Constables go to a dog chained up who's suffering - they can seize him.
Or he can agree to anti-tethering legislation. Which is what the people of Nova Scotia really want. He could go the easy way. Or he can go. Which is what is probably going to happen. Because at the end of every leash is a voter. If he doesn't know that now, he will know it.
I got the same email and had the same thoughts.
ReplyDeleteDistress is conveniently vague, but what I want to know is who evaluates and what are the criteria.
Is the dog checked for dehydration?
Is the weight checked?
Is the dog checked for parasite infestations? Sores? Scars? Bruises?
What about mental/emotional stress? That is not obvious unless the evaluator is experienced to see stress in behaviour. Is the dog social and curious? Or shut-down or frantic? One could measure cortisol levels - the stress hormone.
If any of the above things are missed during an assessment, no really can't tell if a dog is in distress or not, and in that case being alive seems indeed to be the only criteria that matters to our government. Elections can't be soon enough.
This is so true. There is a dog I have been trying to save for two years...despite SPCA and police she is still tied there/
ReplyDeleteWe have 2 dogs in our neighbourhood (and yes we have all reported the owners) who have their dogs tied out 24/7. They have lived their entire lives outside from what I gather from others - I've only lived here 3 years.
ReplyDeletePreviously to being tied out, they roamed FREELY on the highway. I don't know how many times I went to the owner and told her that I saw her dog on the highway or in my backyard, or in lanes out here in Porters Lake but she couldn't care less and its basically the 'what business is it of yours' attitude.
The local control guys have come - at least the outdoor housing is better - and they are great.. They feel for the dogs but they can only do what is mandated under the law.
Oh, and then, we have the parties that the teenage son has with all the fireworks and the dogs bark for hours right there - tied out.
Its' pretty sad - and when I sit with my own very well cared for dog - it makes it even sadder to think thats the ENTIRE LIFE these dogs have had for 5-10 yrs.
They are an OLD Golden Retriever and a middle aged Basset Hound. The authorities know them personally and as stated, they do their best but as long as you can own a dog (and its a dog not a 'furkid) and think that its just like an old set of tires in the backyard - well....
Folks go in and out of this house without even talking to the dogs - they are just part of the scenery... SAD AND WRONG.
This is heartbreaking. I cant wait for the election to come....I have not recieved a reply from john macdonells office and no one answers from the phone. I am sick of the governments lack of effort to put some teeth into their so called laws on abuse...what are they waiting for....the suffering must end and I dont get these owners....are they totally heartless Someday it will come back to get them and it will be their turn to suffer. What more can we do? No one is listening....someone help please
ReplyDeleteThis is heartbreaking. I cant wait for the election to come....I have not recieved a reply from john macdonells office and no one answers from the phone. I am sick of the governments lack of effort to put some teeth into their so called laws on abuse...what are they waiting for....the suffering must end and I dont get these owners....are they totally heartless Someday it will come back to get them and it will be their turn to suffer. What more can we do? No one is listening....someone help please
ReplyDelete