Brooks Animal Law Digest

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act, which includes provisions to prohibit testing cosmetics on animals in Canada and selling cosmetics that rely on new animal testing data. The amendments also aim to prevent false or misleading labelling pertaining to the testing of cosmetics on animals. Animal protection advocates, including Humane Society International/Canada and The Body Shop, have been working with the Canadian government for a decade to advance the legislation. Monica Engebretson, head of public affairs North America, Cruelty Free International, said: “This is a unifying issue that has earned cross-party support in Canada and will match the progress we are seeing around the world as consumers, companies, regulators, and advocates come together to achieve a common goal of ensuring that animals won’t suffer for the sake of cosmetics anywhere.”

The Ontario government has proposed amendments to the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, as part of Bill 102, the Strengthening Safety and Modernizing Justice Act, 2023. The changes would expand the authority of Animal Welfare Services inspectors to take reasonable steps to alleviate an animal's distress and streamline Animal Care Review Board processes. The proposed amendments would also improve cost recovery mechanisms, e.g. by allowing for a broader range of circumstances for statements of account to be served and considering the unpaid amount as a debt owed to the Crown.

The City of Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee have recommended an indefinite pause on the UrbanHensTO pilot program, which allows people to legally keep up to four chickens in their backyard, citing concerns about rising cases of the H5N1 virus  or avian influenza in the province. In addition to concerns about this virus, a recent report from city staff says continuing the program and expanding it to the rest of the city would cost too much. The program launched in 2018 and currently has approximately eighty households enrolled. The recommendation will be considered at a City Council meeting on May 10th.

The 2022 Annual Report by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) has been released, containing assessments and classifications of species according to the Endangered Species Act, 2007. The report adds four new species to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List, including Northern Oak Hairstreak, an extremely rare butterfly. Several species have also been down-listed, including the Bald Eagle, which has been removed from the SARO List entirely.  The SARO List will need to be amended to reflect these new assessments.

Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag style bill sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament and Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee Member John Barlow, has moved on to second reading in the House of Commons. The bill seeks to punish any person unlawfully on property where animals are kept if they know or are reckless as to whether doing so could result in exposing the animals to a disease or toxic substance. The proposed amendments to the Health of Animals Act were previously introduced as Bill C-205, which died when the 43rd Parliament dissolved before reaching its third reading. Bill C-205 was criticized by organizations such as Animal Justice, which emphasized that animal advocates and protesters have never caused a disease outbreak in Canada. In a speech given on May 1st, 2023, NDP Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor argued that biosecurity measures should apply to all individuals on farms, not just unauthorized persons, citing a 2021 Animal Justice report that documented hundreds of biosecurity failures by authorized personnel on farms. He questioned: “If we are serious about biosecurity, should we not be concentrating on making it applicable to everyone who is on a farm, to ensure they are following the standard protocols?”

The Superior Court of Quebec has dismissed a lawsuit brought by animal rights group, Droits animalier Québec (DAQ), seeking an injunction to halt calf roping and steer wrestling at the St-Tite Western Festival. The court dismissed the rodeo's claim that the lawsuit was an abuse of process, noting that the possible violation of provincial animal welfare law was a serious and justiciable issue in which the group had a genuine interest. However, the court ultimately concluded that DAQ’s written complaint filed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 2018 constituted an effective remedy “already in progress” and that allowing the continuation of the injunction would not be an appropriate use of judicial resources. DAQ plans to file a Notice of Appeal with the Quebec Court of Appeal within thirty days.

On April 25th, the Quebec Superior Court heard experts' testimonies in the on-going case about how to deal ethically with the overpopulation of deer at Michel-Chartrand park in Longueuil. The deer have tripled in numbers since 2017, and experts say the park can only sustain fifteen animals. The plaintiffs in the case insist that the municipality has not considered all options and that the plan to cull the deer is irrational and unreasonable. The case against the city is being heard for the first time since last fall, when the Quebec Court of Appeal ordered the city to wait before allowing the hunting of the deer.

Animal rights activists, Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer, are appealing their convictions and sentences in the continuing fall-out from their April 2019 occupation of a Fraser Valley hog farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC). They were sentenced in October 2022, after being convicted at trial of break-and-enter and mischief. Lawyers for Soranno and Schafer filed an appeal with the BC Court of Appeal, arguing Justice Verhoeven erred in law by preventing them from showing the jury video evidence of what they describe as animal cruelty at the farm, and they claim that the Abbotsford police lost and destroyed crucial evidence central to their case.

Reptilia, a reptile zoo in London, Ontario, is being investigated by city hall officials after complaints were received about the display of banned reptiles and venomous snakes. The opening of the facility violates the city’s animal control bylaw, and animal welfare group Zoocheck has filed complaints with municipal bylaw officials. Although Reptilia claims that its provincial license exempts it from municipal bylaws concerning animals, Zoocheck argues that the license only applies to animals native to Ontario, not exotic animals. London City Council voted against granting Reptilia a bylaw exemption earlier this year after receiving several submissions from the public expressing concerns over animal welfare and possible threats to public safety,

The Department of Environment and Local Government in New Brunswick is increasing annual funding for the New Brunswick Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) by $500,000 to assist with enforcement of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Animal cruelty complaints have risen by almost twenty percent in the last two years. The grant will help the New Brunswick SPCA address operational cost pressures including investigations, enforcement, and staff salaries.

A new study by Faunalytics surveyed thousands of people in the United States to determine their willingness to take pro-animal actions, such as buying cruelty-free products or going vegan. The study examines a broad range of demographics and offers insight into which appeals will most likely resonate with specific groups. The study found that being concerned about climate change could be a more significant factor in someone's openness to many pro-animal actions than being an animal lover. It also found that people are most open to simple actions that result in institutional change, such as Meatless Mondays. Faunalytics has created an interactive graphing tool to make it easier for users to view the study's findings.

New animal welfare and trespass laws have come into effect in Western Australia, doubling the maximum penalty for individuals who illegally enter commercial animal farming or slaughter premises and expanding the availability of misconduct restraining orders. Those found guilty of aggravated trespass will face a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $24,000. The new laws aim to protect the agricultural sector and strengthen penalties for those who trespass on farms. This decision comes after the High Court of New South Wales upheld an ag-gag law as constitutional in August 2022 despite a challenge by Farm Transparency International Ltd. arguing that it impinged on freedom of communication regarding cruelty to animals, as the court found that farmers' rights and privacy justified such limitations.

New Zealand has completed its last exports of livestock by sea, fully implementing a ban on export shipments of animals on the grounds of their welfare. The government announced in 2021 that shipping animals offshore would be halted but farmers would be given two years to transition out of the profitable export business. The decision to halt live animal exports follows a review of the industry, prompted by the capsizing of a ship bound for China in 2020 that killed nearly 6,000 cows and forty-one of the forty-three crew members.

A Brazilian court has issued a ban on live cattle exports from all of the country’s ports following a lawsuit filed by animal rights group, the National Forum for the Protection and Defense of Animals. The ruling is a national suspension of all cattle from Brazil until export markets can guarantee adequate treatment of livestock. The group praised federal judge Djalma Gomes’ ruling for its recognition that “Animals are not things. They are sentient living beings, that is, individuals who feel hunger, thirst, pain, cold, anguish, fear.” Brazil primarily exports live cattle to developing countries, including those in the Middle East, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey.

The Pacific Wild Alliance has called on the British Columbia (BC) government to reconsider its wolf cull program, following the release of “disturbing” images. The images, which were obtained via Freedom of Information requests, depict wolves being killed by gunfire from helicopters between 2015 and 2022, during which time the cull cost more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars. Pacific Wild has called for the BC government to release all photos, videos and post-mortem reports relating to the cull.

Canada geese have taken over the Department of National Defence headquarters in Ottawa during the breeding season. According to biologist Chris Sharp, the geese become aggressive and highly protective from the moment they lay eggs. The department sent employees an email with tips on how to handle an aggressive bird, including backing away slowly, raising arms to appear bigger, and giving the bird some space. Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Convention Act, but permits can be obtained to remove nests if there is a significant threat to people.

The Canadian government has introduced Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act, which includes provisions to prohibit testing cosmetics on animals in Canada and selling cosmetics that rely on new animal testing data. The amendments also aim to prevent false or misleading labelling pertaining to the testing of cosmetics on animals. Animal protection advocates, including Humane Society International/Canada and The Body Shop, have been working with the Canadian government for a decade to advance the legislation. Monica Engebretson, head of public affairs North America, Cruelty Free International, said: “This is a unifying issue that has earned cross-party support in Canada and will match the progress we are seeing around the world as consumers, companies, regulators, and advocates come together to achieve a common goal of ensuring that animals won’t suffer for the sake of cosmetics anywhere.”

The Ontario government has proposed amendments to the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, as part of Bill 102, the Strengthening Safety and Modernizing Justice Act, 2023. The changes would expand the authority of Animal Welfare Services inspectors to take reasonable steps to alleviate an animal's distress and streamline Animal Care Review Board processes. The proposed amendments would also improve cost recovery mechanisms, e.g. by allowing for a broader range of circumstances for statements of account to be served and considering the unpaid amount as a debt owed to the Crown.

The City of Toronto’s Economic and Community Development Committee have recommended an indefinite pause on the UrbanHensTO pilot program, which allows people to legally keep up to four chickens in their backyard, citing concerns about rising cases of the H5N1 virus  or avian influenza in the province. In addition to concerns about this virus, a recent report from city staff says continuing the program and expanding it to the rest of the city would cost too much. The program launched in 2018 and currently has approximately eighty households enrolled. The recommendation will be considered at a City Council meeting on May 10th.

Donna Power, co-founder and president of Stop the Mills or the Humane Initiative, is urging Mapleton Council to review and strengthen its kennel bylaws to align with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's code of practice for kennel operations. Power said: “Consumers are unknowingly buying from breeders and brokers that operate in an environment of no traceability, no accountability, and very minimal oversight or enforcement”. Many backyard breeders are dumping dogs after the collapse of the pandemic puppy boom.

Bracebridge councillors will consider an exemption to the Exotic and Wild Animal Control By-law to allow Amanda Foley's animal program to operate. Foley, the owner of Amanda's Exotic Animals, intends to move her animals to Bracebridge, where she has potential bookings for multiple celebrations and events. The show would include Argentine tegus, tarantulas, monitor lizards, cane toads, and carpet pythons.

The 2022 Annual Report by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) has been released, containing assessments and classifications of species according to the Endangered Species Act, 2007. The report adds four new species to the Species at Risk in Ontario (SARO) List, including Northern Oak Hairstreak, an extremely rare butterfly. Several species have also been down-listed, including the Bald Eagle, which has been removed from the SARO List entirely.  The SARO List will need to be amended to reflect these new assessments.

Canada's Bill C-233, also known as Keira's Law, named after four-year old Keira Kagan, has received royal assent. The bill requires judges to consider electronic monitoring devices as part of the release conditions for accused charged with offences against their intimate partners under the Criminal Code. It also amends the Judges Act to provide for continuing education seminars for judges on matters related to intimate partner violence and coercive control in intimate partner and family relationships. The need for judicial training in domestic violence and coercive control, including the use of companion animals as a means of coercion, was highlighted in a brief submitted by Humane Canada to the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women's study of the bill.

Bill C-275, a federal ag-gag style bill sponsored by Conservative Member of Parliament and Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee Member John Barlow, has moved on to second reading in the House of Commons. The bill seeks to punish any person unlawfully on property where animals are kept if they know or are reckless as to whether doing so could result in exposing the animals to a disease or toxic substance. The proposed amendments to the Health of Animals Act were previously introduced as Bill C-205, which died when the 43rd Parliament dissolved before reaching its third reading. Bill C-205 was criticized by organizations such as Animal Justice, which emphasized that animal advocates and protesters have never caused a disease outbreak in Canada. In a speech given on May 1st, 2023, NDP Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor argued that biosecurity measures should apply to all individuals on farms, not just unauthorized persons, citing a 2021 Animal Justice report that documented hundreds of biosecurity failures by authorized personnel on farms. He questioned: “If we are serious about biosecurity, should we not be concentrating on making it applicable to everyone who is on a farm, to ensure they are following the standard protocols?”

The Superior Court of Quebec has dismissed a lawsuit brought by animal rights group, Droits animalier Québec (DAQ), seeking an injunction to halt calf roping and steer wrestling at the St-Tite Western Festival. The court dismissed the rodeo's claim that the lawsuit was an abuse of process, noting that the possible violation of provincial animal welfare law was a serious and justiciable issue in which the group had a genuine interest. However, the court ultimately concluded that DAQ’s written complaint filed with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 2018 constituted an effective remedy “already in progress” and that allowing the continuation of the injunction would not be an appropriate use of judicial resources. DAQ plans to file a Notice of Appeal with the Quebec Court of Appeal within thirty days.

On April 25th, the Quebec Superior Court heard experts' testimonies in the on-going case about how to deal ethically with the overpopulation of deer at Michel-Chartrand park in Longueuil. The deer have tripled in numbers since 2017, and experts say the park can only sustain fifteen animals. The plaintiffs in the case insist that the municipality has not considered all options and that the plan to cull the deer is irrational and unreasonable. The case against the city is being heard for the first time since last fall, when the Quebec Court of Appeal ordered the city to wait before allowing the hunting of the deer.

Animal rights activists, Amy Soranno and Nick Schafer, are appealing their convictions and sentences in the continuing fall-out from their April 2019 occupation of a Fraser Valley hog farm in Abbotsford, British Columbia (BC). They were sentenced in October 2022, after being convicted at trial of break-and-enter and mischief. Lawyers for Soranno and Schafer filed an appeal with the BC Court of Appeal, arguing Justice Verhoeven erred in law by preventing them from showing the jury video evidence of what they describe as animal cruelty at the farm, and they claim that the Abbotsford police lost and destroyed crucial evidence central to their case.

The Ontario Animal Care Review Board upheld the decision of an Animal Welfare Inspector to remove twenty-four dogs from an industrial property in Kleinburg, Ontario, after receiving a call from the Ontario Animal Protection Call Centre. Brian Del Mastro, the owner of the dogs, argued that the removal of his animals was not in accordance with the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act because there was no evidence of critical distress to justify entry into the property. The Board ultimately disagreed, noting there was “ample evidence to support a reasonable belief that the dogs in question were in distress at the time of their removal and that returning the dogs to the appellant would likely place the animals in distress.”

The owner of several animals, including livestock guardian dogs, cattle and an Arabian Stallion, had his animals removed by Animal Welfare Services due to non-compliance with their orders. The owner filed appeals before the Animal Care Review Board. All but one were dismissed due to being filed after the prescribed time period. Despite the owner's absence, the hearing proceeded, and the Board found that the animals subject to removal were no longer the owner's property under the forfeiture provisions of the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, and therefore, the Board had no jurisdiction to order their return. The appeal was dismissed.

Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS) seized over a dozen horses from two farms after finding that neither owner had enough feed to last the winter. The horses were taken into protective custody and later auctioned off. The past year has seen an increase in animal seizures, which the APSS attributes to the challenge of agricultural conditions caused by droughts. Under the Saskatchewan Animal Protection Act, APSS can return the seized animals to their owners if they fix the issues that caused the animals to be removed and pay the seizure costs. However, in these cases, the owners could not find enough feed in time to meet the needs of the animals.

Reptilia, a reptile zoo in London, Ontario, is being investigated by city hall officials after complaints were received about the display of banned reptiles and venomous snakes. The opening of the facility violates the city’s animal control bylaw, and animal welfare group Zoocheck has filed complaints with municipal bylaw officials. Although Reptilia claims that its provincial license exempts it from municipal bylaws concerning animals, Zoocheck argues that the license only applies to animals native to Ontario, not exotic animals. London City Council voted against granting Reptilia a bylaw exemption earlier this year after receiving several submissions from the public expressing concerns over animal welfare and possible threats to public safety,

The Department of Environment and Local Government in New Brunswick is increasing annual funding for the New Brunswick Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) by $500,000 to assist with enforcement of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Animal cruelty complaints have risen by almost twenty percent in the last two years. The grant will help the New Brunswick SPCA address operational cost pressures including investigations, enforcement, and staff salaries.

The Alberta Energy Regulator (AER) has announced an investigation following Suncor’s discovery of thirty-two dead birds at an oil sands tailings pond. These birds, along with a muskrat and a vole, were found north of Fort McMurray, Alberta, at Suncor’s Base Mine Site. AER reports that the energy company found out about the birds during an oil sands bird-contact monitoring program survey. Suncor spokeswoman Erin Rees said: “At the time of discovery, all bird deterrent systems at Base Plant were active. Our Bird Deterrent Program includes canons, radar and effigies.” The regulator said an AER inspector will inspect the company’s bird deterrent systems and ensure mitigation strategies are in place.

Parks Canada has “destroyed” a black bear that killed a dog on the Wabasso Lake Trail at Jasper National Park. The bear attacked one of the two dogs that were walking off-leash with their owners before carrying the dog into the woods. One of the hikers used bear spray directly into the bear’s face and repeatedly punched the bear on the head, but the bear would not release the dog. According to Parks Canada, the bear's “non-typical” behaviour indicated a habituated bear with an increased chance of having continued negative interactions.

McGill University and Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) have teamed up to establish the Research and Innovation Chair in Animal Welfare and Artificial Intelligence (WELL-E). The five-year, five-million-dollar project will be funded by a grant from the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Alliance and PROMPT, fiduciary of the Ministry of Economy, Energy, and Innovation, with participation from many companies in the dairy industry. The chair will focus on the use of artificial intelligence and the internet of things to detect changes in cow welfare and longevity before visible signs emerge. WELL-E's research will help Canadian dairy producers improve and extend the lives of their livestock, as well as address the economic, social and environmental sustainability of dairy farming.

Purina is accepting grant proposals from researchers for its bi-annual Purina Sponsorship for Human-Animal Bond studies program until July 15th, 2023. The program offers up to $30,000 in research funding for proposals that explore the potential benefits of the human-pet bond in mental health, pet adoption and youth development areas. Proposals about cats and/or dogs that use non-invasive research studies and procedures consistent with routine veterinary care will be evaluated. Purina invests over $100 million in research annually with the aim of helping pets live longer and healthier lives.

A new study by Faunalytics surveyed thousands of people in the United States to determine their willingness to take pro-animal actions, such as buying cruelty-free products or going vegan. The study examines a broad range of demographics and offers insight into which appeals will most likely resonate with specific groups. The study found that being concerned about climate change could be a more significant factor in someone's openness to many pro-animal actions than being an animal lover. It also found that people are most open to simple actions that result in institutional change, such as Meatless Mondays. Faunalytics has created an interactive graphing tool to make it easier for users to view the study's findings.

New animal welfare and trespass laws have come into effect in Western Australia, doubling the maximum penalty for individuals who illegally enter commercial animal farming or slaughter premises and expanding the availability of misconduct restraining orders. Those found guilty of aggravated trespass will face a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $24,000. The new laws aim to protect the agricultural sector and strengthen penalties for those who trespass on farms. This decision comes after the High Court of New South Wales upheld an ag-gag law as constitutional in August 2022 despite a challenge by Farm Transparency International Ltd. arguing that it impinged on freedom of communication regarding cruelty to animals, as the court found that farmers' rights and privacy justified such limitations.

New Zealand has completed its last exports of livestock by sea, fully implementing a ban on export shipments of animals on the grounds of their welfare. The government announced in 2021 that shipping animals offshore would be halted but farmers would be given two years to transition out of the profitable export business. The decision to halt live animal exports follows a review of the industry, prompted by the capsizing of a ship bound for China in 2020 that killed nearly 6,000 cows and forty-one of the forty-three crew members.

Sri Lanka's plan to export 100,000 toque macaque monkeys to a Chinese company has been met with protests by conservationists and animal rights activists. The toque macaque is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature but is not protected in Sri Lanka where farmers view them as a menace. Activists believe that the monkeys are likely to be used for testing in labs instead of being placed in zoos. The Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka has stated that the government agency that manages the import of wild animals in China is “unaware of the request.”

Dozens of dog farmers in South Korea rallied to criticize President Yoon Suk Yeol's wife, Kim Keon Hee, for her reported comments expressing the possibility of a ban on dog meat consumption. Kim held a private luncheon with animal rights activists earlier in April, after which some local media outlets reported Kim told the activists that she would push for an end to dog meat consumption over the course of Yoon’s term. Dog farmers argued that Kim does not have the authority to make such a promise as she is not a policy official. However, activists said her comments were taken out of context and that she rather expressed her personal desire for the end of dog meat consumption. Farmers demanded that Kim take back her comments and that authorities present either clear compensation steps or allow older farmers to keep their businesses. Recently, South Korea has seen a growing number of calls to outlaw the practice as it is falling out of favour with young people.

American animal rights organization Stop Animal Exploitation NOW (SAEN) has revealed that the University of Washington (UW) admitted to damaging a monkey’s brain in a report. In this incident, which occurred during an experiment, a recording device was allegedly extended too far in the brain of a monkey causing harm to the underlying tissue. SAEN has filed a federal complaint against the UW and is seeking a fine of $12,272 for each violation. This is not the first time such criticism has occurred; in 2022, courts ruled that the university had to pay PETA almost $500,000 after the school was found to have destroyed public records while under federal investigation.

A Brazilian court has issued a ban on live cattle exports from all of the country’s ports following a lawsuit filed by animal rights group, the National Forum for the Protection and Defense of Animals. The ruling is a national suspension of all cattle from Brazil until export markets can guarantee adequate treatment of livestock. The group praised federal judge Djalma Gomes’ ruling for its recognition that “Animals are not things. They are sentient living beings, that is, individuals who feel hunger, thirst, pain, cold, anguish, fear.” Brazil primarily exports live cattle to developing countries, including those in the Middle East, Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey.

Kerala's Minister for Forests and Wildlife Protection, AK Saseendran, has called for a national consensus to create laws to address conflicts between humans and wildlife. He emphasized the need to protect both animals and humans and urged animal protection groups and NGOs to offer suggestions to resolve the issue. The man-animal conflict is a growing problem in India, as human activities increasingly encroach on wildlife habitats, leading to more frequent encounters between humans and animals.

China's revised Law on the Protection of Wildlife went into effect on May 1st, 2023. The law, which was adopted in December 2022, aims to better protect wildlife and their habitats, with refined measures for the regulation of wildlife populations. The law requires the construction of isolation and protection facilities and safety warning signs in areas where wild animals threaten people's property and safety or the productivity of agriculture and animal husbandry. It also broadens the scope of national subsidies for losses caused by wild animals. An array of measures for the quarantine of wild animals also came into effect, with efforts to improve technical support and inter-departmental cooperation.

Police in Lindsay, Ontario, are facing public backlash after an officer euthanized a raccoon with a shovel in a public area. The Kawartha Lakes Police Service said that officers determined the raccoon was a threat to public safety after reports of it being injured or possibly rabid. A firearm was not considered a safe option due to heavy foot and vehicle traffic, so officers decided to use a shovel. The incident has sparked criticism on social media, with some questioning the officers' actions and suggesting there were other alternatives, such as involving the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.

The Prince Edward Island Humane Society is seeking support from Islanders to raise $3 million for a new animal shelter in Charlottetown. The Expanding Our Paw Print capital campaign, which has been in the works for several years, has faced numerous challenges, including the pandemic, inflation and increased demand for services. Initially, the plan was to expand the existing shelter, but after an eighteen-month search for a temporary facility yielded nothing, the shelter team decided to build a new facility instead of expanding. With $2.8 million already raised, the shelter is now seeking an additional $3 million to complete the new facility.

The Pacific Wild Alliance has called on the British Columbia (BC) government to reconsider its wolf cull program, following the release of “disturbing” images. The images, which were obtained via Freedom of Information requests, depict wolves being killed by gunfire from helicopters between 2015 and 2022, during which time the cull cost more than $8 million in taxpayer dollars. Pacific Wild has called for the BC government to release all photos, videos and post-mortem reports relating to the cull.

Canada geese have taken over the Department of National Defence headquarters in Ottawa during the breeding season. According to biologist Chris Sharp, the geese become aggressive and highly protective from the moment they lay eggs. The department sent employees an email with tips on how to handle an aggressive bird, including backing away slowly, raising arms to appear bigger, and giving the bird some space. Canada geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Convention Act, but permits can be obtained to remove nests if there is a significant threat to people.

The Ontario government is investing $13.5 million in a new poultry research centre in Elora to advance research and drive innovation for the poultry sector. Results from the Ontario Poultry Research Centre will be shared with poultry farmers and the broader poultry business sector to encourage the adoption of innovative, safer, healthier, and more efficient animal and on-farm production practices. The centre is expected to begin construction in 2024 and be completed by 2026.

Ottawa's Bylaw staff, the National Capital Commission, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry have denied any involvement in the decision to kill a black bear that had been spotted near homes and in backyards eating birdseed in Kanata's Bridlewood neighborhood. Ottawa police shot and killed the bear in a backyard on the evening of April 24th, deeming it a significant public safety risk. According to experts, tranquilizing is unsafe in the dark, which was one of the issues during the police response. The city is currently reviewing its wildlife strategy and residents are encouraged to reach out to the Engage Ottawa with concerns.