A new organization has emerged in northern Ontario with the legal authority for animal cruelty and neglect investigations.
It's called the Northern Animal Welfare Unit (NAWU) and fills the void left by the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
When the OSPCA made the decision in early 2019 to stop enforcing provincial and federal animal cruelty-related legislation, former Ontario SPCA affiliate bodies remained willing to continue to provide investigative services to protect animals in the province, while the long-term model for animal welfare services could be further developed.
The Timmins and District Humane Society (TDHS) is one of the affiliate societies that remains committed to animal welfare.
It now oversees services in North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, and Temiskaming-Cochrane, in addition to Timmins. Animal Welfare Inspectors were hired to protect animals in each of these regions resulting in the Northern Animal Welfare Unit.
Each NAWU Inspector has been granted the powers of a peace officer for the purpose of enforcing animal welfare-related legislation.
It allows them to investigate any reported cases of animal cruelty or neglect. If that investigation confirms that an animal is in distress, an inspector can take measures to have the pet owner address and relieve the distress. If an owner does not comply, Inspectors can remove the animal if necessary, as well as charge offenders under provincial and federal legislation for animal cruelty or neglect.
Some municipalities have animal care bylaws in place, but municipal bylaw officers don't enforce provincial or federal legislation as it relates to animal cruelty. A municipal bylaw officer may issue a fine for not complying with animal care-related bylaws but an appointed animal welfare inspector has the legal authority to:
- make the owner address any neglect/abuse,
- remove an animal from an owner’s care for allowing ongoing abuse
- charge someone under provincial or federal laws for animal cruelty/neglect.
If you need to report a case of animal abuse or cruelty, call the province-wide number at 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625). In doing so, an Animal Welfare Inspector in our region will be dispatched.
For more information on animal protection laws in Ontario, click here.
