Proposed amendments to B.C.'s animal cruelty legislation will see fewer creatures saved and fewer abusers punished, according to the provincial SPCA.
Bill 24, introduced Tuesday by Agriculture Minister Don McRae, would increase government scrutiny of SPCA operations and change the way animal owners appeal its actions.
Instead of contesting animal seizures in court, owners would appeal to the B.C. Farm Industry Review Board, which McRae says could be ready to hear cases this year.
But the SPCA says the proposed changes "have no benefit for animals" in the province, and will make it more difficult to help animals in distress.
"We are fully in support of fairness and transparency and oversight through an appeal process," SPCA CEO Craig Daniell said. "Our fear is that the new system adds layers of bureaucracy which will mean fewer animals may be rescued from suffering and fewer animal abusers brought to justice."
The SPCA says it currently issues reasons for seizing animals in an average of 14 days, and appeals in the B.C. Supreme Court are decided in an average of 75.
But Daniell says the process would take at least six months under the Farm Industry Review Board.
"This means that our shelters will be filled with seized animals awaiting rulings. This is extremely costly, it is not good animal welfare and it means we do not have room to bring in other abused and neglected animals," he said.
McRae says he brought the changes forward in response to concerns raised by the public, and that they'd result in a quicker and more cost-effective dispute-resolution process.
The legislation will also require the SPCA to provide the government with statistics related to its enforcement of animal cruelty laws.
The agency argues the "increased bureaucracy" will keep constables at their computers instead of responding to cruelty calls.
With files from The Canadian Press
