Alberta's solicitor general backs tougher animal cruelty laws

Alberta's solicitorgeneral is adding his support to the fight for tougher animal cruelty laws.

After a spate of animal abuse cases across the province in recent weeksincluding one involving an emaciated huskyand kitten found with their mouthstaped shut many Albertans are expressing outrage at the possibility those responsible could get off easyand are calling for stronger laws to punish those found responsible.

"It's really important, I think, to engage awareness of all people in our city, just to ensure that what's happened to these poor animals just doesn't happen again," Alberta's solicitorgeneralJonathan Denissaid at arally held Saturday at Nose Hill Park."The fact that you have so many people showing up here today shows me that this is a big issue for people in our city."

Denis says he is open to reviewing provincial legislation and hopes the federal government will do the same.

There are two laws under which those who commit animal cruelty can be charged.

Provincially, the Animal Protection Act addresses animals in distress due to neglect or abuse by their owner. The solicitorgeneral appoints peace officers from the Alberta SPCA, the Calgary Humane Society and the Edmonton Humane Society who can issue penaltiessuch as fines of up to $20,000 and restrictions on owning animals.

Federally, the Criminal Code of Canada addresses wilful acts of cruelty of neglect by either ananimal's owner or by someone else. Police or RCMP investigate these cases and often work together with the local SPCA or humane society.

Maximum penalties can varyfromfive years in prison for wilfully causing pain or suffering to an animalto a fine not exceeding $5,000 for wilfully neglecting to provide adequate food, water, shelter or care.

In practice, there has beenno precedent for handing out afive-year sentence, and most prosecutions take more than a year to complete.

Others have tried to strengthen law

It's not the first time Albertans have rallied to try totoughen animal cruelty laws.

In 2007, Myron Thompson, MP for Wild Rose, tabled four petitions on the issue with a total of111,896 signatures in the House of Commons in Ottawa.

That effort was started by Thompson's constituent, Tamara Chaney, in response to the tragic death of two-year-old border-collie mixDaisy Dukewho was tied behind a truck, dragged and then left for dead in a ditch in Didsbury.

Daisy Duke had to be euthanized.

In 2008, Parliament passed Bill S-203 to increase the penalties for people found guilty of animal cruelty.

However, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies says it left in place loopholes that make it very difficult to actually prosecute animal abusers.

Also, animal cruelty efforts in Alberta have historically faced opposition particularly around issues of castration,de-horningand branding from ranchers and those working in livestock industries.

"Some things have been going on for centuries and these normal practices ... should be treated with the greatest respect," said Thompson in 2007.

Culprits may be 'threat to our society'

In 2011, there were 24 convictions under the Animal Protection Act three involved the welfare of cattle, 15 involved horses, one involved sheep and five involved dogs.

"We wanted to draw some attention to this very, very important matter," said Shalane Pryce, who organized Saturday's rally."We believe that the culprits responsible are definitely a threat to our society."

A reward fund run by Calgary group Vets To Goreceived more than $75,000 in donations from the public.

Whoever comes forward with information in the case of a dead dog and kitten found in a Calgary alley with their mouths taped shut will receive $20,000 of that amount.

The rest of the money will go towards establishing a national animal abuse registry and a training program for Crown prosecutors dealing with animal abuse cases.

If it's not claimed within one year, the money will be donated to the Calgary Humane Society's investigation unit.