Brooks Animal Law Digest

The Divisional Court has dismissed an application for judicial review filed by Animal Justice, The Fur-Bearers, and Coyote Watch Canada against a coyote killing contest put on by Chesher’s Outdoor Store in Belleville, Ontario in 2021 and 2022. The judge found that the store did not have the written authorization required under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. However, it was the store rather than the respondent in the case, the Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, who was the party in potential violation of the Act. On the question at issue in the case, namely, judicial review of the Minister’s decision to not prosecute the store, the court held that it was within his discretion not to prosecute. The annual contest was held again in February 2023. Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for an investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, hoping the province will be open to this way of holding the store accountable.

The British Columbia (BC) Civil Resolution Tribunal considered new factors being proposed under the Family Law Act when determining the custody of a dog named Bentley. Christina McInulty and Jeffrey Wayne Bond had shared custody of Bentley on a rotating three-week cycle for eight years but ended up in court when McInulty refused to let Bentley go when Bond came to pick him up. McInulty alleged that she was no longer comfortable with Bond having Bentley because she had discovered upsetting things about Bond but failed to substantiate the allegation. Vice Chair Andrea Ritchie said: “I find that Ms. McInulty unilaterally removing the dog from one of its owners, Mr. Bond, without any explanation about the allegedly 'upsetting' behaviour or how it may have been dog-related, displays a lack of ability to put Bentley’s best interests above her own personal interests.”

The Parti Québécois (PQ) is advocating for the creation of an independent agency to combat animal cruelty, arguing that the Agriculture Ministry cannot be responsible for both food production and animal welfare. The proposed agency would report to the Justice Ministry and have the power to investigate and follow up on cases of animal cruelty. Currently, the Agriculture Ministry conducts inspections in response to complaints and violators can face fines and jail time. The PQ argues that it is unacceptable for non-profit organizations with limited resources to be responsible for overseeing animal welfare in the province.

The Quebec government is conducting a listening tour to identify measures that can enhance the welfare of pets in the province. The tour, chaired by the government assistant for animal welfare, Audrey Bogemans, will consist of seven sessions held between May and September and will include meetings with thirty organizations to gather ideas on how to improve laws and intervention practices related to animal welfare. André Lamontagne, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has also announced an $8 million envelope to hire twenty workers assigned to animal welfare, including inspectors.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released their first report on the food safety aspects of cultivated meat. The report aims to assist regulatory agencies in creating frameworks for approval and safety protocols for cultivated meat. The FAO and WHO estimate that over 100 companies worldwide are currently developing cultivated meat products. The report analyzes safety risks across the four stages of cell-based food production, including sourcing, growth and production, harvesting, and food processing. The report also explores the sector’s nomenclature and urges regulatory bodies to be clear and consistent with their language around the technology.

A new report by World Animal Protection found that antibiotic overuse in factory farming is causing almost one million premature deaths and $400 billion in global economic losses annually. The report highlights how eighty-four percent of antibiotics administered globally on factory farms are not used to treat sick animals but instead are given to healthy animals to prevent disease and ensure productivity in cramped conditions for maximum profit. The report found that four superbugs common in factory farming are linked to 975,000 human deaths and 35 million illnesses annually. The human death toll linked to factory farming superbugs is on course to double by 2050 to 2 million if no immediate action is taken.

According to new polling data commissioned by the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS), the majority of British Columbians in the Lower Mainland have positive feelings about plant-based menu options. The research polled a representative sample of Lower Mainland residents and found that seventy-three percent agreed "food services that offer a greater variety of plant-based options are more inclusive to all." The poll results demonstrate that the demand for plant-based options is growing, with sixty-five percent of respondents having reduced their consumption of animal products and sixty percent saying they would support including animal-production-reduction efforts in local, provincial, and federal climate, health and animal welfare strategies. The VHS is offering free support to British Columbia-based institutions (e.g. restaurants, long-term care homes, and schools) that are interesting in introducing more plant-based menu items.

Jane Kotzmann, “A Typology of Australian Animal Sentience Recognition Provisions — Enacted and Proposed” (2023) Federal Law Review.

Abstract: Australia appears to be following the trend in mainly Western countries of recognising animal sentience in the law. This article sets out a typology of animal sentience recognition provisions that have been enacted, or have been proposed, in Australian jurisdictions to date. These include provisions or proposed provisions located in statutory objects, statutory principles, statutory definitions and a treaty. Depending on legislative context, these provisions, and proposed provisions (if enacted), may have different legal consequences. The trend towards legally recognising animal sentience may also signal further positive legal reforms for animals in the future.

Peter Singer, “Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed” (US: Harper Perennial, 2023).

Summary: Few books maintain their relevance – and have remained continuously in print – nearly 50 years after they were first published. Animal Liberation, one of TIME’s “All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books” is one such book. Since its original publication in 1975, this ground breaking work has awakened millions of people to the existence of "speciesism"—our systematic disregard of nonhuman animals—inspiring a worldwide movement to transform our attitudes to animals and eliminate the cruelty we inflict on them. In Animal Liberation Now, Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory farms" and product-testing procedures, destroying the spurious justifications behind them and showing us just how woefully we have been misled.

Now, for the first time since its original publication, Singer returns to the major arguments and examples and brings us to the current moment. This edition, revised from top to bottom, covers important reforms in the European Union, and now in various U.S. states, but on the flip side, Singer shows us the impact of the huge expansion of factory farming due to the exploding demand for animal products in China. Further, meat consumption is taking a toll on the environment, and factory farms pose a profound risk for spreading new viruses even worse than COVID-19.

Animal Liberation Now includes alternatives to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency, and justice, it is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike.

This title is available for pre-order and will be released on May 23rd, 2023. He will also be doing a speaking tour in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics has released a special issue aimed at educating readers on the health consequences of meat consumption for humans, animals, and the environment. The issue features papers from a diverse array of contributors exploring how health professionals can respond to the challenges created by meat consumption. The papers aim to inform both clinical practice and institutional responses to the issue.

Two groups, Friends of the Earth and the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign, have announced a week of action targeting the World Bank Group (WBG) and its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, during the WBG’s Spring 2023 meetings held April 10th to 16th in Washington, D.C. The groups are calling on World Bank president nominee, Ajay Banga, to end the bank’s financing of industrial livestock due to its climate impact. The WBG has invested $4.6 billion in industrial animal agriculture in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, China, Vietnam, and Kenya over the past decade. The campaign is supported by a global civil society coalition, including The Global Forest Coalition, World Animal Protection and Sinergia Animal.

Over 100 animal rights activists were arrested after disrupting the British Grand National horse race on April 15th, delaying its start by a quarter of an hour. The group, Animal Rising, had previously announced plans to disrupt the race to prevent "direct harm coming to the horses." Animal rights groups have criticized the race over the number of injuries and fatalities suffered by horses during the event. Sarah McCaffrey, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed the argument that banning horse racing would leave the animals without purpose. “I think this really highlights the disconnect we have between horses in the fact that if we’re not using them or exploiting them, they wouldn’t exist,” she said.

The United Kingdom (UK) government is investing £12 million in the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA), a research center focused on developing sustainable food production methods. CARMA will investigate precision fermentation and sustainable palm oil production, as well as look into scaling up the production of cultivated meat. The project will involve researchers from multiple UK universities and will run for seven years. CARMA is the biggest UK government investment in sustainable proteins to date.

The European Court of Auditors published a review of the transport of live animals in the European Union which highlights the need for a serious revision of the Live Animals Transport Regulation for animal welfare and presents proposals to address the issues. The review recognizes several problems related to long-distance transport and suggests reducing the number and length of journeys, improving conditions for animals during transport, and finding alternatives. The report acknowledges the Regulation is not implemented uniformly, and animal welfare during transport is not considered in the cost of transport. It suggests promoting the transport of meat, labelling to increase transparency and harmonisation, and using technology to track all animal journeys.

Rising numbers of mammals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza have put Canadian wildlife and public health experts on alert as new research by federal scientists warns of a "potentially devastating pandemic" if the virus mutates to spread efficiently between humans. The H5N1 strain was first identified in 1996, with a new type emerging in 2020. There have been hundreds of confirmed cases in wild skunks, foxes, mink, as well as other mammals. On April 4th, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that a domestic dog in Oshawa, Ontario, tested positive and died. Public health agencies are saying the risk to human health remains low.

The City of Orillia has permanently established a Licensing By-law allowing residents to keep backyard hens on qualifying properties. The program was initially a six-year pilot project and has been successfully implemented, leading to its permanent establishment on April 3rd, 2023. Interested residents must submit an Application Form and pay a fee of $100 to obtain a Hen Coop Licence. Properties with lot sizes of five hundred square metres or greater within specific zones are eligible for the program, and hen coops are not allowed in Source Water Protection Areas.

The Divisional Court has dismissed an application for judicial review filed by Animal Justice, The Fur-Bearers, and Coyote Watch Canada against a coyote killing contest put on by Chesher’s Outdoor Store in Belleville, Ontario in 2021 and 2022. The judge found that the store did not have the written authorization required under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. However, it was the store rather than the respondent in the case, the Ontario Minister of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry, who was the party in potential violation of the Act. On the question at issue in the case, namely, judicial review of the Minister’s decision to not prosecute the store, the court held that it was within his discretion not to prosecute. The annual contest was held again in February 2023. Animal Justice and Coyote Watch Canada have filed an application for an investigation under Ontario’s Environmental Bill of Rights, hoping the province will be open to this way of holding the store accountable.

The Crown in Newfoundland and Labrador has appealed Robert Picco's animal cruelty verdict from March 2021 for the second time. Picco was acquitted of eight charges of animal cruelty under the Criminal Code against four beagles, after the judge determined that he had not wilfully caused harm to the dogs. The first dismissal of the appeal happened in May 2022. This time the case revolves around whether Picco was reckless (and not just careless) in his care of the dogs, who were found severely malnourished. A ruling is expected at a later date.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are investigating after a pet horse named Cash was shot and killed on Vancouver Island. The retired show jumping horse was found by one of his owners with a gunshot wound to his left shoulder. Despite calling Cash’s vet and the Ladysmith RCMP, the horse was suffering too greatly to be saved and was euthanized by police. The family does not believe that someone was illegally hunting on their property and mistook Cash for a deer or elk. They believe the horse was intentionally shot at close range as the bullet was lodged deeply in his body.

Police in Norfolk County in Southwestern Ontario are investigating the death of a two-year-old French Mastiff named Bain, who allegedly ingested a large amount of poison on March 16th. Bain became sick that afternoon and was rushed to the vet’s where he died shortly after. The police are seeking assistance from the public and urging anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

The New Brunswick Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the discovery of fourteen dead horses and five others in poor health on a farm in the greater Stanley area. The cause of death of the horses is unknown. The president of the New Brunswick Equestrian Association said that horse ownership in the province is unregulated and suggested that licensing horse owners may help prevent similar tragedies.

The British Columbia (BC) Civil Resolution Tribunal considered new factors being proposed under the Family Law Act when determining the custody of a dog named Bentley. Christina McInulty and Jeffrey Wayne Bond had shared custody of Bentley on a rotating three-week cycle for eight years but ended up in court when McInulty refused to let Bentley go when Bond came to pick him up. McInulty alleged that she was no longer comfortable with Bond having Bentley because she had discovered upsetting things about Bond but failed to substantiate the allegation. Vice Chair Andrea Ritchie said: “I find that Ms. McInulty unilaterally removing the dog from one of its owners, Mr. Bond, without any explanation about the allegedly 'upsetting' behaviour or how it may have been dog-related, displays a lack of ability to put Bentley’s best interests above her own personal interests.”

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada have confirmed that a domestic dog in Oshawa, Ontario, tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza after chewing on a wild goose. The dog died after developing clinical signs, and the necropsy showed respiratory system involvement. This is the only case of its kind in Canada, and current scientific evidence suggests that the risk of a human contracting avian influenza from a domestic pet is minor. Owners are being advised not to feed their pets raw meat from game birds or poultry and not to allow them to consume or play with dead wild birds found outside.

The Parti Québécois (PQ) is advocating for the creation of an independent agency to combat animal cruelty, arguing that the Agriculture Ministry cannot be responsible for both food production and animal welfare. The proposed agency would report to the Justice Ministry and have the power to investigate and follow up on cases of animal cruelty. Currently, the Agriculture Ministry conducts inspections in response to complaints and violators can face fines and jail time. The PQ argues that it is unacceptable for non-profit organizations with limited resources to be responsible for overseeing animal welfare in the province.

The Quebec government is conducting a listening tour to identify measures that can enhance the welfare of pets in the province. The tour, chaired by the government assistant for animal welfare, Audrey Bogemans, will consist of seven sessions held between May and September and will include meetings with thirty organizations to gather ideas on how to improve laws and intervention practices related to animal welfare. André Lamontagne, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has also announced an $8 million envelope to hire twenty workers assigned to animal welfare, including inspectors.

Summary: Animals are here with us and not for us. We can do better for our animal friends when we work together collectively and individually to make a difference; by joining hands in this next great, important social justice movement. A Voice for Animals offers insight on animal issues and the animal rights movement. The first part of the book examines the close connection we share with our beloved companion animals, and the plight of homeless animals. It bridges the gap between beloved pets and homeless pets in shelters. It offers solutions to end the shelter debacle. The second part discusses the lives of other species: farm animals, animals in research, animals in captivity, and wildlife. This book provides heartfelt real life animal stories, celebrates animal victories, and explores the deep connection of animals to humans and our biological need to share our lives with them. It inspires readers to take action and get motivated for animals: adopt animals from shelters and rescues, live a cruelty-free lifestyle, and go vegan. This book advocates for the better treatment of animals by inviting you to gain an understanding of the special human-animal bond.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have released their first report on the food safety aspects of cultivated meat. The report aims to assist regulatory agencies in creating frameworks for approval and safety protocols for cultivated meat. The FAO and WHO estimate that over 100 companies worldwide are currently developing cultivated meat products. The report analyzes safety risks across the four stages of cell-based food production, including sourcing, growth and production, harvesting, and food processing. The report also explores the sector’s nomenclature and urges regulatory bodies to be clear and consistent with their language around the technology.

A new report by World Animal Protection found that antibiotic overuse in factory farming is causing almost one million premature deaths and $400 billion in global economic losses annually. The report highlights how eighty-four percent of antibiotics administered globally on factory farms are not used to treat sick animals but instead are given to healthy animals to prevent disease and ensure productivity in cramped conditions for maximum profit. The report found that four superbugs common in factory farming are linked to 975,000 human deaths and 35 million illnesses annually. The human death toll linked to factory farming superbugs is on course to double by 2050 to 2 million if no immediate action is taken.

According to new polling data commissioned by the Vancouver Humane Society (VHS), the majority of British Columbians in the Lower Mainland have positive feelings about plant-based menu options. The research polled a representative sample of Lower Mainland residents and found that seventy-three percent agreed "food services that offer a greater variety of plant-based options are more inclusive to all." The poll results demonstrate that the demand for plant-based options is growing, with sixty-five percent of respondents having reduced their consumption of animal products and sixty percent saying they would support including animal-production-reduction efforts in local, provincial, and federal climate, health and animal welfare strategies. The VHS is offering free support to British Columbia-based institutions (e.g. restaurants, long-term care homes, and schools) that are interesting in introducing more plant-based menu items.

Jane Kotzmann, “A Typology of Australian Animal Sentience Recognition Provisions — Enacted and Proposed” (2023) Federal Law Review.

Abstract: Australia appears to be following the trend in mainly Western countries of recognising animal sentience in the law. This article sets out a typology of animal sentience recognition provisions that have been enacted, or have been proposed, in Australian jurisdictions to date. These include provisions or proposed provisions located in statutory objects, statutory principles, statutory definitions and a treaty. Depending on legislative context, these provisions, and proposed provisions (if enacted), may have different legal consequences. The trend towards legally recognising animal sentience may also signal further positive legal reforms for animals in the future.

Peer Ederer & Frédéric Leroy, “The societal role of meat – what the science says” (2023) 13:2 Animal Frontiers 4.

Abstract: Eating meat has been the aspiration for an enjoyable and nutritious meal in most cultures and during most times for at least as long as there are written records, and likely far back to the earliest days of our genus some 2 million years ago. Nonetheless, history also indicates that there has been frequent and prominent advice to abstain from meat or even prohibit its consumption, for cultural, spiritual, nutritional, or economic reasons. The societal debate around the value of meat is neither new nor has it been dispassionate. Science has been a participant in this debate from early on as well. While Pythagorean communities abstained from meat based on reincarnation theories, Aristotle came to the reasoned conclusion based on everything that he knew about 2,300 years ago: “The tame animals are for the use and nourishment of mankind, while the wild ones, if not all, most of them, are on account of nourishment and help, in order that clothes and other tools come to be from these. And therefore, if nature does nothing in vain or without a purpose, it is necessary that nature made all of these on account of humans” (Aristotle, Politics, 1256b10-22). It is therefore fair for every generation to re-ask this question considering the best and most recent scientific evidence available: should eating meat in sufficient portions be a common and important part of the standard human diet?

Peter Singer, “Animal Liberation Now: The Definitive Classic Renewed” (US: Harper Perennial, 2023).

Summary: Few books maintain their relevance – and have remained continuously in print – nearly 50 years after they were first published. Animal Liberation, one of TIME’s “All-TIME 100 Best Non-Fiction Books” is one such book. Since its original publication in 1975, this ground breaking work has awakened millions of people to the existence of "speciesism"—our systematic disregard of nonhuman animals—inspiring a worldwide movement to transform our attitudes to animals and eliminate the cruelty we inflict on them. In Animal Liberation Now, Singer exposes the chilling realities of today's "factory farms" and product-testing procedures, destroying the spurious justifications behind them and showing us just how woefully we have been misled.

Now, for the first time since its original publication, Singer returns to the major arguments and examples and brings us to the current moment. This edition, revised from top to bottom, covers important reforms in the European Union, and now in various U.S. states, but on the flip side, Singer shows us the impact of the huge expansion of factory farming due to the exploding demand for animal products in China. Further, meat consumption is taking a toll on the environment, and factory farms pose a profound risk for spreading new viruses even worse than COVID-19.

Animal Liberation Now includes alternatives to what has become a profound environmental and social as well as moral issue. An important and persuasive appeal to conscience, fairness, decency, and justice, it is essential reading for the supporter and the skeptic alike.

This title is available for pre-order and will be released on May 23rd, 2023. He will also be doing a speaking tour in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

The American Medical Association Journal of Ethics has released a special issue aimed at educating readers on the health consequences of meat consumption for humans, animals, and the environment. The issue features papers from a diverse array of contributors exploring how health professionals can respond to the challenges created by meat consumption. The papers aim to inform both clinical practice and institutional responses to the issue.

Hope Bohanec (ed), “The Humane Hoax: Essays Exposing the Myth of Happy Meat, Humane Dairy, and Ethical Eggs” (US: Lantern Publishing & Media, 2023). 

Summary: As consumers become increasingly aware of the animal agriculture industry’s cruelty and environmental devastation, clever industry marketers are adapting with alternative “humane” and “sustainable” labeling and marketing campaigns. In the absence of accurate information, it has never been more important to educate people on the realities behind the industry lies, and people are hungry for the truth. 

The Humane Hoax features a range of engaging and thought-provoking essays from eighteen notable experts who are at the forefront of this marketing and societal shift, chronicling every aspect with in-depth analyses and intellectual rigor. Among other timely topics, we will explore how the humane hoax intersects with feminism, environmentalism, how it is represented in the media, and the affects it has on human and non-human communities alike. The Humane Hoax will leave the reader questioning everything that they have been conditioned to believe as consumers. 

The Coller Animal Law Foundation released a guide, "Advocating for Animals: A Guide to Legislative Advocacy," to help animal advocates influence the introduction, enactment, and modification of legislation in the United States and the European Union. The guide provides information on opportunities to engage with policymakers and how to craft legal and policy recommendations. It also outlines the rules to follow when engaging with legislators.

The United Kingdom has announced a plan to regulate contracts involving pigs in order to provide greater certainty and stability to the supply chain. According to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the regulations will strengthen the sector’s ability to deal with challenges and will include collecting and sharing more supply chain data in order to increase wholesale price transparency and national slaughter numbers. The move follows a public consultation in which nearly 400 respondents from the sector expressed a desire for legally required written contracts to remove ambiguity around the sale of and trade in pigs.

Ohio has made it illegal for animal shelters to use gas chambers to euthanize pets. The new law enhances Goddard’s law, which classifies felony animal abuse crimes as acts of violence and provides that offenders would have the charge on their record for a lifetime. The law came into effect on April 3rd, 2023, and aims to ensure that animals are treated humanely during euthanasia procedures.

Uruguay's annual Semana Criolla gaucho festival, which includes a horse-breaking championship, is facing opposition from animal welfare campaigners calling for the event to be banned. The Uruguayan Congress voted unanimously to certify gaucho rodeo as the official national sport in 2006. However, following the deaths of two horses in 2019, activists launched a petition calling for the end of the event. More than 92,000 signatures were collected. Opponents of the rodeo have protested at the festival this year, with campaigners asking for horse-breaking exhibitions to be banned in Montevideo, with an eye towards extending the ban nationwide.

Two groups, Friends of the Earth and the Stop Financing Factory Farming Campaign, have announced a week of action targeting the World Bank Group (WBG) and its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation, during the WBG’s Spring 2023 meetings held April 10th to 16th in Washington, D.C. The groups are calling on World Bank president nominee, Ajay Banga, to end the bank’s financing of industrial livestock due to its climate impact. The WBG has invested $4.6 billion in industrial animal agriculture in countries such as Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico, China, Vietnam, and Kenya over the past decade. The campaign is supported by a global civil society coalition, including The Global Forest Coalition, World Animal Protection and Sinergia Animal.

Over 100 animal rights activists were arrested after disrupting the British Grand National horse race on April 15th, delaying its start by a quarter of an hour. The group, Animal Rising, had previously announced plans to disrupt the race to prevent "direct harm coming to the horses." Animal rights groups have criticized the race over the number of injuries and fatalities suffered by horses during the event. Sarah McCaffrey, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed the argument that banning horse racing would leave the animals without purpose. “I think this really highlights the disconnect we have between horses in the fact that if we’re not using them or exploiting them, they wouldn’t exist,” she said.

The United Kingdom (UK) government is investing £12 million in the Cellular Agriculture Manufacturing Hub (CARMA), a research center focused on developing sustainable food production methods. CARMA will investigate precision fermentation and sustainable palm oil production, as well as look into scaling up the production of cultivated meat. The project will involve researchers from multiple UK universities and will run for seven years. CARMA is the biggest UK government investment in sustainable proteins to date.

The European Court of Auditors published a review of the transport of live animals in the European Union which highlights the need for a serious revision of the Live Animals Transport Regulation for animal welfare and presents proposals to address the issues. The review recognizes several problems related to long-distance transport and suggests reducing the number and length of journeys, improving conditions for animals during transport, and finding alternatives. The report acknowledges the Regulation is not implemented uniformly, and animal welfare during transport is not considered in the cost of transport. It suggests promoting the transport of meat, labelling to increase transparency and harmonisation, and using technology to track all animal journeys.

The Fonds étudiant pour la défense juridique des animaux (FEJDA), a group of law students from Université de Montréal, is campaigning against the use of trapping for recreational or commercial purposes. They have gathered more than 4000 signatures on a petition calling for big box stores in Quebec to stop selling leg-hold traps and have already achieved success with one major retailer, the outdoor store SAIL . The group is contemplating expanding the boycott to smaller hunting and fishing shops or bringing the petition to the Quebec National Assembly. They have not addressed how their efforts interact with constitutionally-protected harvesting rights for Indigenous peoples.

Max, a three-year-old dog who was abandoned in a Toronto parkette due to his owners’ financial difficulties, has officially been put up for adoption. The Toronto Humane Society (THS) were working with the owners through their Urgent Care program to give them an opportunity to reunite with Max. However, the family decided it would be best for Max to go to a new home. Max will now begin the standard adoption process at THS and has already had several people express interest. Inflation is putting many dog owners in a tough position: “Choosing between caring for your pet and caring for your well-being is not a fair choice, but unfortunately, with nowhere left to turn, this has become a reality for a growing number [of people],” says the THS.

Rising numbers of mammals infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza have put Canadian wildlife and public health experts on alert as new research by federal scientists warns of a "potentially devastating pandemic" if the virus mutates to spread efficiently between humans. The H5N1 strain was first identified in 1996, with a new type emerging in 2020. There have been hundreds of confirmed cases in wild skunks, foxes, mink, as well as other mammals. On April 4th, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed that a domestic dog in Oshawa, Ontario, tested positive and died. Public health agencies are saying the risk to human health remains low.

Turtle Protectors, an Indigenous-led stewardship program, is hosting monthly wetland walks in the City of Toronto’s High Park to raise awareness about turtles and the challenges they face when navigating fragmented wetlands. The group also has a hotline where people can report the location of a turtle seen out of water and will send volunteers to stay with the turtle at a respectful distance and then place a protector over her nest to guard it from predators during nesting season.

Olymel has announced plans to permanently close its Vallée-Jonction slaughterhouse in December 2023. Olymel president and CEO Yanick Gervais told the media that the closure is due to a variety of factors, including inflation, the poor state of the facility, the pandemic, the closure of the Chinese market, and a labour shortage. The closure will impact approximately 1,000 workers.