Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act now in effect

The New Year brought with it stiffer penalties for serious offences against animals, as Ontario has launched the Provincial Animal Welfare Services (PAWS) Act.

It's the first fully provincial government-based animal welfare enforcement system in Canada, said a news release, and it gives Ontario the strongest penalties in the country for people who violate animal welfare laws.

"People care about the welfare of animals and so does our government," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones, in the news release. "We committed to creating a strong, new system to protect animals, and we have delivered on that promise."

Through the Act, the province will have more inspectors to provide provincewide coverage, including those with specialized expertise in livestock, zoos, aquariums and equines.

Courts are now able to impose the highest financial penalties for offenders in Canada, focused on non-compliance and repeat offenders, and differentiates between individuals and corporations.

For example, anyone convicted of causing or permitting an animal to be in distress, animal fighting, or contravening standards of care can be hit with a $130,000 fine and/or a maximum of two years in jail. Subsequent convictions would see a fine of $260,000 and/or two years in jail.

Prior to the PAWS Act, the maximum fine was $60,000 and/or a maximum of two years in jail.

For corporations convicted of the same crimes, the fine for a first offence is $500,000. A second offence could result in a maximum fine of $1 million.

For less serious offences, like knowingly making a false report to an inspector or failure to comply with an order, the fine is a maximum of $75,000 and/or a maximum of six months in jail for a first offence. For subsequent offences, the fine is a maximum of $100,000 and/or a maximum of one year in jail.

Corporations could be fined a maximum of $100,000 for the first offence, and a maximum of $250,000 for a subsequent offence.

The PAWS Act also updated prohibitions and obligations, such as barring the return of dog fighting equipment to a person convicted of an offence and harming or attempting to harm a service animal or one that works with peace officers.

The province is also establishing new oversight of inspectors that offers increased transparency and accountability, as well as a one-window complaints mechanism for the public, as well as a multi-disciplinary advisory table made up of a wide range of experts, including veterinarians, agriculture representatives, academics, animal advocates and others to provide ongoing advice to the ministry.

The province has established a toll-free number, 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625) for people to report concerns about animal distress or abuse. This call centre is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The PAWS Act repeals and replaces the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA) Act.

Other changes made by the act: