SPCA wants bigger role in animal abuse cases

The St. John's SPCA wants to get back to having a bigger role in stopping animal cruelty.

Under legislation passed a couple of years ago, the group says it can no longer seize abused animals.

That job now falls onlyunder the jurisdiction of police and municipal enforcement officers.

A role to play

The SPCA still provides shelter for animalsbut members of the organization think they need be involved earlier.

St. John's SPCA President Simone Brown thinks the group previously played a key role in dealing with animal abuse issues that is now missing, as a result of the new law.

"We need to be a part of the prevention," Brownsaid.

"We need to be a part of that full network of people working collaboratively together to make sure that the public's demands for the better treatment of animals is handled."

In a written statement, the past chair of the SPCA said government has told the group to stop responding to calls of animal cruelty or neglect because of changes to the Animal Health and Protection Act.

The new rules allow the SPCA to only be involved in the process by sheltering animals after they have been seized.

The organizationis now lobbying the Newfoundland and Labrador government to let them once again play a bigger role in prevention.

Brown hopes that the SPCA can return to being as engaged in the process as they were before.

"We don't just want to be there for the clean up, and unfortunately that's the only role we're officially allowed to play within the act," she said.

Important part of the team

The SPCA aren't the only ones who feel they should still be allowed to receive calls about abuse to animals.

Newfoundland and Labrador's chief veterinarian, Hugh Whitney, thinks that while the SPCA can't seize animals, it can still help by reporting problems to his department or to local authorities.

"We see them as an important part of the team but not as the enforcers," said Whitney.

"If there's any concerns they can contact us, because we have someone that is constantly working on animal welfare issues and always visiting police detachments to make sure they're aware of the law, and who to contact in certain circumstances."

Whitney said the SPCA alsohas a recognized legal role in the legislation, by being the only animal welfare group that can refuse to return an animal to an owner who may be abusing it.