Brooks Animal Law Digest

Introduced by MPP Parm Gill, Bill 91, the Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023, has received royal assent. The bill includes controversial amendments to section 35 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, which permit the issuance and transfer of licenses for new dog train and trial areas where wildlife are kept captive for training dogs in hunting skills and conducting hunting dog competitions. Barry MacKay, Director or Animal Alliance of Canada, said: “Dogs chasing, harassing and cornering coyotes is certainly defined as dog fighting, an act that most Ontarians would not believe would ever be sanctioned by any modern government and be so out of sync with the moral values of the majority of its citizens.”

Bill S-241, also known as the Jane Goodall Act, sponsored by Senator Marty Klyne, has successfully passed the second reading in the Senate. Senator Donald Neil Plett, the leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate, expressed concerns regarding the bill's potential to advance the animal rights movement. In particular, Senator Plett cautioned that granting limited legal standing to animals could have far-reaching consequences for zoos and agriculture. The bill will now undergo further examination by several Senate committees.

Canada’s Parliament has passed Bill S-5, a historic bill that will phase out toxicity tests on animals. It has reached a final vote and will soon be signed into law. The original bill expressed a desire to move away from animal testing, but took no specific measures to do so. Animal Justice and other organizations worked with lawmakers to amend the bill, and ensure it included specific measures to replace the use of animals in toxicity testing. The measures now in the law include requiring the government to use alternatives to toxicity testing on animals, regulating non-animal testing, and mandating that Ministers of Environment and Health release a plan within the next two years to promote animal-free toxicity testing methods. Bill S-5 overhauls the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, a foundational federal law aimed at pollution prevention and regulating toxic substances. 

Senator Pierre Dalphond and singer Jann Arden have collaborated to introduce a new Senate bill, Bill S-270, also known as The Horse Protection Act, aimed at banning live horse exports for slaughter in Canada. This comes after MPs and animal-welfare groups accused the federal government of going back on their commitment to ban the transport of thousands of live horses to Japan and Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor presented a petition signed by more than 36,000 Canadians in the House of Commons calling on the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to end the practice. On June 20th, Liberal MP Tim Louis also announced plans to introduce a private member's bill in the House of Commons to outlaw the practice, highlighting the government's lack of progress.

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 passed second reading in the House of Commons. The bill aims to penalize individuals unlawfully accessing properties with animals if it poses a risk of exposing them to diseases or toxic substances. Previously introduced as Bill C-205, it has been criticized by organizations such as Animal Justice, which argue that animal advocates and protesters have never caused a disease outbreak in Canada. The bill will now move on to consideration by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Canada has officially banned cosmetics animal testing and trade with the passing of measures through Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act. These measures prohibit cosmetics animal testing, ban the sale of products relying on new animal testing data, and prohibit misleading labelling related to animal testing. Animal protection advocates, including Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada, and Cruelty Free International, along with industry partners such as Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics, and The Body Shop, have collaborated with the Canadian government to achieve this milestone. Canada now joins over forty jurisdictions and major markets in ending or limiting cosmetics animal testing and sales.

The Canadian government has proposed draft regulations to ban the sale, cross-border trade, and import of elephant ivory and rhinoceros tusks. The ban also extends to hunting trophies made from these animal parts. The regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette and are open for public consultation until July 24th. This move aims to combat the illegal wildlife trade and to protect endangered species.

The Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) filed a writ of intervention with the housing tribunal in support of two tenants who are challenging a clause in their rental leases prohibiting them from owning animals. The SPCA contends that these clauses contradict the recognition of animals as “sentient beings” in the Civil Code of Quebec since they treat animals as mere property and disregard the emotional attachment and obligations humans have towards them. They also argue that article five of the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of every person’s right to respect of their private life protects the right to choose to live with a companion animal, as well as an argument about such clauses being abusive and unreasonable, especially during a housing crisis. On May 25th, Andrés Fontecilla, MNA for Laurier-Dorion and Québec Solidaire's housing critic, introduced a bill that would amend the Civil Code to render ineffective “no-pet” clauses in rental housing leases.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario denied Animal Justice's request to intervene in an employment discrimination case based on creed. The applicant, Adam Knauff, an ethical vegan forest fire fighter, alleges that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry failed to accommodate his dietary needs. Animal Justice sought leave to participate broadly in the application, including to adduce expert evidence on the nature of ethical veganism, the ethical vegan community, the role of ethical veganism in a person’s self-identity and worldview, and accommodation of ethical vegans. The tribunal denied Animal Justice's request, stating that their involvement would not provide a distinct perspective, could cause delays, and would not be necessary considering the representation of the applicant by counsel.

The Animal Care Review Board dismissed a request for reconsideration of the Board’s previous rulings, which upheld the decision of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) to seize fourteen horses from a barn located in Burk’s Falls, Ontario and confirm a Statement of Account associated with the care of the animals. Julie Nicholls, the owner of the barn, sought reconsideration on various grounds, including a violation of procedural fairness. Nicholls asserted that the boarding facility selected for her horses was chosen because the AWS inspector had a prior relationship with facility, and that this choice resulted in her being charged more for the boarding of her animals than was necessary. The Board dismissed the request for reconsideration, stating that Nicholls did not advance sufficient evidence to support the claim.

The City of London has filed an application with the Ontario Superior Court seeking a judge's decision regarding Reptilia's compliance with London's animal control bylaw. Reptilia is keeping animals prohibited under the bylaw and the City is asking for an order to prevent them from doing this and a declaration that they are not exempt from the bylaw. Reptilia applied for an exemption three times but was denied by the city council. Reptilia plans to oppose the city's application and expects a court hearing in the early fall.

Newly obtained government documents reveal that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) refused entry to an overcrowded truckload of Canadian pigs at the US border due to concerns over animal welfare. The inspection found that some pigs had died and others were suffering from heat stress during transportation from Manitoba on a hot and humid day. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarians agreed with the USDA's decision, stating that the pigs would have experienced even more harm if they had been allowed to proceed through the border and on to slaughter. The CFIA acknowledged that the driver should have been more cautious and this was not the first incident involving pigs from this farm.

Sam Machado et al, Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood (US: Island Press, 2023).

Summary: Happy has lived at the Bronx Zoo for most of her 48 years, and for more than a decade has remained largely isolated and lonely. Like all elephants, Happy has a complex mind and a deep social, intellectual, and emotional life; she desires to make choices and has a sense of self-recognition. But like all nonhuman animals, Happy is considered a thing in the eye of the law, with no fundamental rights. Due to a series of groundbreaking legal cases, however, this is beginning to change—and Happy’s liberation is at the forefront. A vibrant and personal graphic novel, Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood traces this moving story and makes the legal and scientific case for animal personhood.

A new report by the Ecuadorian Coordinator of Organizations for the Defense of Nature and the

Environment exposes the negative impacts of multilateral development banks' financing of factory farms in Ecuador, specifically focusing on the expansion of the country's largest pork and poultry producer. The report highlights social and ecological harm caused by the banks' failure to consult or compensate affected Indigenous communities, violating both Ecuadorian law and their own policies. The lending has led to pollution, destruction of ecosystems, and threats to local communities' health and livelihoods. Civil society groups are calling for an end to financing factory farming and urging the banks and the government to enforce policies and resolve the impacts of the operations.

The Humane League UK has filed an appeal against the High Court's ruling that found the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs did not act unlawfully regarding the use of fast-growing chickens in the poultry industry. The organization seeks to challenge the decision and highlight concerns about the welfare of these chickens in the industry.

The Australian and Queensland governments have announced a $160 million investment to phase out commercial gill net fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. The comprehensive plan involves buying out gill net licenses and implementing independent data validation for commercial fishing vessels. Additionally, endangered hammerhead sharks will be designated as a "no-take" species in commercial fishing to safeguard their populations from fishing for their flesh and fins. By June 2027, the goal is to establish a Net-Free Reef, ensuring the protection of threatened species such as dugongs, turtles, and dolphins from the hazards of gill nets.

A Ukrainian zoo located in Russian-occupied Kherson has seen significant deaths after flooding caused by the collapse of a major dam. Approximately 300 animals, including monkeys, horses, donkeys, and raccoons, drowned in the floodwaters. The collapse has also harmed a variety of wild animals. For instance, fledgling water birds lost their food sources and nests, and thousands of fish have been seen gasping on mud flats. It will take a decade for the flora and fauna populations to return and adjust to their new reality, according to Kateryna Filiuta, an expert in protected habitats for the Ukraine Nature Conservation Group. 

A year-long BBC investigation has exposed a global monkey torture ring spanning from Indonesia to the US. The investigation revealed that customers in the US, United Kingdom, and other countries were paying Indonesians to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on film. The sadistic activities were initially conducted on YouTube before migrating to private groups on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police are pursuing the buyers, and several arrests have already been made. The investigation has also identified key suspects involved in the distribution and commissioning of these extreme torture videos.

United States (US) regulators have granted approval for the sale of chicken made from animal cells, marking the first time such a product has been authorized. Two California companies, Upside Foods and Good Meat, have been given the green light to offer cultivated meat to restaurants and, eventually, supermarkets. The move represents a significant step toward animal welfare and reducing environmental impacts associated with traditional meat production. Although the products are currently more expensive and limited in production, the companies aim to introduce them in exclusive restaurants initially.

Biologist Steeve Côté warns that the increased frequency of forest fires in Quebec could have lasting effects on wildlife. Unlike ecosystems that can tolerate frequent fires, the boreal forest in eastern Quebec faces them only every 150 to 200 years. The increased frequency poses challenges for wildlife, particularly smaller species that struggle to cope. Maxim Larrivée, the director of the Montreal Insectarium, said: "Unfortunately those are all manifestations of climate change that as a scientific community, we have been warning society were going to happen.”

Over 800 farm animals in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region have been temporarily relocated to protect them from raging forest fires. Livestock from six large farms and several farmhouses have been evacuated, with arrangements made to find suitable places for them. Despite the challenges of agitated animals and limited housing options, the relocation operation has been ongoing, aided by volunteers. However, space is becoming scarce, raising concerns about future evacuations.

Grande Prairie City Council approved a motion allowing residents up to six backyard chickens under the livestock exemption permit program, an increase from the previous limit of four. Existing permit holders will need to reapply if they wish to add more birds. The decision follows a presentation by administration, which reported fourteen complaints filed since the launch of the Urban Hen program in 2018.

Introduced by MPP Parm Gill, Bill 91, the Less Red Tape, Stronger Economy Act, 2023, has received royal assent. The bill includes controversial amendments to section 35 of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, which permit the issuance and transfer of licenses for new dog train and trial areas where wildlife are kept captive for training dogs in hunting skills and conducting hunting dog competitions. Barry MacKay, Director or Animal Alliance of Canada, said: “Dogs chasing, harassing and cornering coyotes is certainly defined as dog fighting, an act that most Ontarians would not believe would ever be sanctioned by any modern government and be so out of sync with the moral values of the majority of its citizens.”

Bill S-241, also known as the Jane Goodall Act, sponsored by Senator Marty Klyne, has successfully passed the second reading in the Senate. Senator Donald Neil Plett, the leader of the Opposition in the Canadian Senate, expressed concerns regarding the bill's potential to advance the animal rights movement. In particular, Senator Plett cautioned that granting limited legal standing to animals could have far-reaching consequences for zoos and agriculture. The bill will now undergo further examination by several Senate committees.

Canada’s Parliament has passed Bill S-5, a historic bill that will phase out toxicity tests on animals. It has reached a final vote and will soon be signed into law. The original bill expressed a desire to move away from animal testing, but took no specific measures to do so. Animal Justice and other organizations worked with lawmakers to amend the bill, and ensure it included specific measures to replace the use of animals in toxicity testing. The measures now in the law include requiring the government to use alternatives to toxicity testing on animals, regulating non-animal testing, and mandating that Ministers of Environment and Health release a plan within the next two years to promote animal-free toxicity testing methods. Bill S-5 overhauls the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999, a foundational federal law aimed at pollution prevention and regulating toxic substances. 

Conservative MLA Jamie Fox has introduced Bill no. 101, titled the Service Dog Act, which aims to establish regulations and rights for service dog handlers. The proposed law would create a Registrar of Service Dogs and set out requirements for obtaining certificates and identification cards for service dogs. It would also ensure that service dog handlers have the right to enter public places with their dogs and cannot be denied rental units based on having a dog member of a service dog team on the premises.

Senator Pierre Dalphond and singer Jann Arden have collaborated to introduce a new Senate bill, Bill S-270, also known as The Horse Protection Act, aimed at banning live horse exports for slaughter in Canada. This comes after MPs and animal-welfare groups accused the federal government of going back on their commitment to ban the transport of thousands of live horses to Japan and Member of Parliament Alistair MacGregor presented a petition signed by more than 36,000 Canadians in the House of Commons calling on the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to end the practice. On June 20th, Liberal MP Tim Louis also announced plans to introduce a private member's bill in the House of Commons to outlaw the practice, highlighting the government's lack of progress.

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 passed second reading in the House of Commons. The bill aims to penalize individuals unlawfully accessing properties with animals if it poses a risk of exposing them to diseases or toxic substances. Previously introduced as Bill C-205, it has been criticized by organizations such as Animal Justice, which argue that animal advocates and protesters have never caused a disease outbreak in Canada. The bill will now move on to consideration by the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Canada has officially banned cosmetics animal testing and trade with the passing of measures through Bill C-47, the Budget Implementation Act. These measures prohibit cosmetics animal testing, ban the sale of products relying on new animal testing data, and prohibit misleading labelling related to animal testing. Animal protection advocates, including Humane Society International/Canada, Animal Alliance Canada, and Cruelty Free International, along with industry partners such as Cosmetics Alliance Canada, Lush Cosmetics, and The Body Shop, have collaborated with the Canadian government to achieve this milestone. Canada now joins over forty jurisdictions and major markets in ending or limiting cosmetics animal testing and sales.

The Canadian government has proposed draft regulations to ban the sale, cross-border trade, and import of elephant ivory and rhinoceros tusks. The ban also extends to hunting trophies made from these animal parts. The regulations have been published in the Canada Gazette and are open for public consultation until July 24th. This move aims to combat the illegal wildlife trade and to protect endangered species.

The Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) filed a writ of intervention with the housing tribunal in support of two tenants who are challenging a clause in their rental leases prohibiting them from owning animals. The SPCA contends that these clauses contradict the recognition of animals as “sentient beings” in the Civil Code of Quebec since they treat animals as mere property and disregard the emotional attachment and obligations humans have towards them. They also argue that article five of the Quebec Charter of Rights and Freedoms guarantee of every person’s right to respect of their private life protects the right to choose to live with a companion animal, as well as an argument about such clauses being abusive and unreasonable, especially during a housing crisis. On May 25th, Andrés Fontecilla, MNA for Laurier-Dorion and Québec Solidaire's housing critic, introduced a bill that would amend the Civil Code to render ineffective “no-pet” clauses in rental housing leases.

The Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario denied Animal Justice's request to intervene in an employment discrimination case based on creed. The applicant, Adam Knauff, an ethical vegan forest fire fighter, alleges that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry failed to accommodate his dietary needs. Animal Justice sought leave to participate broadly in the application, including to adduce expert evidence on the nature of ethical veganism, the ethical vegan community, the role of ethical veganism in a person’s self-identity and worldview, and accommodation of ethical vegans. The tribunal denied Animal Justice's request, stating that their involvement would not provide a distinct perspective, could cause delays, and would not be necessary considering the representation of the applicant by counsel.

The Animal Care Review Board dismissed a request for reconsideration of the Board’s previous rulings, which upheld the decision of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) to seize fourteen horses from a barn located in Burk’s Falls, Ontario and confirm a Statement of Account associated with the care of the animals. Julie Nicholls, the owner of the barn, sought reconsideration on various grounds, including a violation of procedural fairness. Nicholls asserted that the boarding facility selected for her horses was chosen because the AWS inspector had a prior relationship with facility, and that this choice resulted in her being charged more for the boarding of her animals than was necessary. The Board dismissed the request for reconsideration, stating that Nicholls did not advance sufficient evidence to support the claim.

A Calgary man, Joshua Perez, has pleaded guilty to an animal abuse charge after using a curtain rod to discipline his four-month-old Cane Corso puppy. Perez struck the dog for biting furniture and other dogs in his apartment. A neighbour witnessed the incident, reported it, and the police seized the puppy. A veterinarian found bruising on the dog and a healed broken rib. Despite the abuse, a joint recommendation from the Crown and defense resulted in a twelve-month conditional discharge for Perez, provided he completes one year of probation and undergoes dog training.

Derek Morgan from Mactier, Ontario, pleaded guilty to trespassing for hunting purposes and discharging a firearm from a roadway. Morgan was fined $8000 and had his hunting license suspended for two years. The court learned that conservation officers conducted a controlled deer decoy operation in response to reports of trespassing and unsafe hunting practices in the Port Carling area on November 7th, 2022. Morgan unlawfully shot at the deer decoy with a shotgun and slug from a roadway on unauthorized property.

The Ontario Animal Care Review Board (ACRB) dismissed an appeal to have Yathavan Jotheeswaran's dog returned to him and confirmed a $1156.27 Statement of Account related to the dog's care. The decision was made based on concerns of inadequate care, including lack of food, water, and suitable shelter, as well as allegations of sexual behaviour towards the dog made by staff at the shelter where Jotheeswaran resides. The ACRB found that Jotheeswaran failed to prove that the conditions causing distress had been resolved and expressed concerns about his inappropriate behaviour towards the animal.

Charges against an Alberta woman accused of trying to mail two live puppies and a kitten have been dropped, according to crown prosecutors. Jill Marshall was initially charged in 2019 after the animals were discovered inside a cardboard box by Canada Post workers in Milo, Alberta. The Vulcan County Emergency Services investigated the incident and found the animals in two separate packages with stamps stuck to their heads. The animals were unharmed and taken to the Calgary Humane Society. Marshall was charged under Alberta's Animal Protection Act with causing an animal to be in distress, but the Crown decided to stay the charges and not proceed with the trial. The agency consulted with an animal expert and determined there was no likelihood of conviction.

Three Winnipeg dogs have been seized after their deadly attack on another dog in the Point Douglas area. Flynn was walking her eleven-year-old greyhound mix, Carter, when the dogs broke through a fence and attacked him. Despite emergency surgery, Carter's condition worsened, and he eventually died. The owner of the other dogs, Rosa Akerstream, expressed regret and claimed her dogs were usually not aggressive. The incident has raised concerns about pet ownership in the neighborhood, with some calling for action. Akerstream intends to fight to get her dogs back.

The City of London has filed an application with the Ontario Superior Court seeking a judge's decision regarding Reptilia's compliance with London's animal control bylaw. Reptilia is keeping animals prohibited under the bylaw and the City is asking for an order to prevent them from doing this and a declaration that they are not exempt from the bylaw. Reptilia applied for an exemption three times but was denied by the city council. Reptilia plans to oppose the city's application and expects a court hearing in the early fall.

The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has decided to halt the development of an updated national code of practice for livestock transport. In an information update, NFACC cited several factors that contributed to this decision, including significant amendments to federal regulations governing animal transportation, the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of a lead organization dedicated to livestock and poultry transport. The process, which began in 2018, was funded by the federal AgriAssurance program but did not finish before the program expired.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has made updates to the Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Normal Farm Practices Protection Board (NFPPB). The NFPPB is responsible for ruling on issues related to farm practices and protecting farmers from nuisance complaints and restrictive municipal by-laws. The updates aim to improve the Board’s efficiency, such as allowing for the dismissal of applications without a hearing under certain circumstances. The revised rules came into effect on May 30th, 2023.

Newly obtained government documents reveal that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) refused entry to an overcrowded truckload of Canadian pigs at the US border due to concerns over animal welfare. The inspection found that some pigs had died and others were suffering from heat stress during transportation from Manitoba on a hot and humid day. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarians agreed with the USDA's decision, stating that the pigs would have experienced even more harm if they had been allowed to proceed through the border and on to slaughter. The CFIA acknowledged that the driver should have been more cautious and this was not the first incident involving pigs from this farm.

In response to Canada’s unprecedented wildfire season, Calgary’s Wilder Institute is aiming to preserve at-risk species that could soon become extirpated due to the fires. The institute concentrates on wildlife conservation by reintroducing threatened species to the wild, and this season, the animal they have chosen to focus on is Alberta’s whooping crane. Smoke can have a long-term impact on the lungs of whooping cranes and affect their ability to hold territory, find an appropriate nesting habitat, communicate, and mate.

The Manitoba government has announced a $1.5 million investment in the Sustainable Fisheries and Certification Program, building on last year's $2.5 million investment. The program aims to enhance data collection for informed decision-making, improve sustainability through initiatives like buyback programs for licenses and quotas and financial support for certification processes. The government is also implementing voluntary license and quota buyback programs to reduce harvest pressure on walleye and sauger in Lake Winnipegosis and Lake Manitoba. Additionally, a partnership with Indigenous Services Canada has launched the Lake Winnipeg Fisher Co-op Enhancement Program to support the local commercial fishing industry.

Sam Machado et al, Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood (US: Island Press, 2023).

Summary: Happy has lived at the Bronx Zoo for most of her 48 years, and for more than a decade has remained largely isolated and lonely. Like all elephants, Happy has a complex mind and a deep social, intellectual, and emotional life; she desires to make choices and has a sense of self-recognition. But like all nonhuman animals, Happy is considered a thing in the eye of the law, with no fundamental rights. Due to a series of groundbreaking legal cases, however, this is beginning to change—and Happy’s liberation is at the forefront. A vibrant and personal graphic novel, Thing: Inside the Struggle for Animal Personhood traces this moving story and makes the legal and scientific case for animal personhood.

Tessa Jane Gonzalez, “‘Positive’ animal welfare in aquaculture as a cardinal principle for sustainable development” (2023) 4 Frontiers Animal Science.

Summary: This article focuses on the interconnections between animal welfare, the environment, and sustainability. Using Atlantic Salmon, a widely farmed finfish, as an example, the author examines how advancements in animal welfare can contribute to addressing various global challenges such as food security, ecosystem resilience, carbon emissions, ocean pollution, overfishing, and threats to public health. The importance of the "One Health" framework in facilitating coordinated action is emphasized, with the suggestion that a systemic and effective altruistic approach within this model can help achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The article also highlights the negative consequences of intensive food production systems with inadequate animal welfare considerations, including health deficiencies, disease outbreaks, antibiotic resistance, ecosystem degradation, biodiversity impacts, and reduced resource efficiency. It emphasizes the need to improve animal welfare in farmed aquatic animals, which have often been overlooked compared to terrestrial species. The article concludes that a comprehensive development plan focusing on animal welfare in aquaculture is crucial for safeguarding humans, animals, and the environment at an international level.

Katherine E Koralesky et al, “Using institutional ethnography to analyse animal sheltering and protection I: Animal protection work” (2023) 32 Animal Welfare.

Abstract: Animal protection laws exist at federal, provincial and municipal levels in Canada, with enforcement agencies relying largely upon citizens to report concerns. Existing research about animal protection law focuses on general approaches to enforcement and how legal terms function in the courts, but the actual work processes of animal law enforcement have received little study. We used institutional ethnography to explore the everyday work of Call Centre operators and Animal Protection Officers, and we map how this work is organised by laws and institutional polices. When receiving and responding to calls staff try to identify evidence of animal ‘distress’ as legally defined, because various interventions (writing orders, seizing animals) then become possible. However, many cases, such as animals living in deprived or isolated situations, fall short of constituting ‘distress’ and the legally mandated interventions cannot be used. Officers are also constrained by privacy and property law and by the need to record attempts to secure compliance in order to justify further action including obtaining search warrants. As a result, beneficial intervention can be delayed or prevented. Officers sometimes work strategically to advocate for animals when the available legal tools cannot resolve problems. Recommendations arising from this research include expanding the legal definition of ‘distress’ to better fit animals’ needs, developing ways for officers to intervene in a broader range of situations, and more ethnographic research on enforcement work in jurisdictions with different legal systems to better understand how animal protection work is organised and constrained by laws and policies.

A man has pleaded guilty to intentionally disturbing wildlife in Yellowstone National Park after a newborn bison calf had to be euthanized. Clifford Walters admitted to the charge and was fined $500, required to make a $500 community service payment to the Yellowstone Forever Wildlife Protection Fund, and pay additional fees. The incident occurred when Walters pushed the separated calf from its mother onto the roadway, causing the animal to follow cars and people. Efforts to reunite the calf with its herd failed, leading to the decision to euthanize it.

One man has been charged and thirty individuals have been released on bail following a protest organized by animal rights groups, Animal Rising, at the Epsom Derby in Surrey, England. The charged individual, Ben Newman, is facing charges of causing public nuisance after he ran onto the track during a race. The incident prompted a significant police operation, and organizers condemned the protesters’ actions, highlighting the potential danger to human and animal lives. Louise Hilwood, a spokeswoman for Animal Rising, said: "Someone did make it onto the track today and that's a huge success - not only because they got on the track, but because we managed to start this national conversation about what happens, not only to racehorses, but to animals throughout many industries, including our food system.”

A new report by the Ecuadorian Coordinator of Organizations for the Defense of Nature and the

Environment exposes the negative impacts of multilateral development banks' financing of factory farms in Ecuador, specifically focusing on the expansion of the country's largest pork and poultry producer. The report highlights social and ecological harm caused by the banks' failure to consult or compensate affected Indigenous communities, violating both Ecuadorian law and their own policies. The lending has led to pollution, destruction of ecosystems, and threats to local communities' health and livelihoods. Civil society groups are calling for an end to financing factory farming and urging the banks and the government to enforce policies and resolve the impacts of the operations.

The Humane League UK has filed an appeal against the High Court's ruling that found the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs did not act unlawfully regarding the use of fast-growing chickens in the poultry industry. The organization seeks to challenge the decision and highlight concerns about the welfare of these chickens in the industry.

The Australian and Queensland governments have announced a $160 million investment to phase out commercial gill net fishing in the Great Barrier Reef. The comprehensive plan involves buying out gill net licenses and implementing independent data validation for commercial fishing vessels. Additionally, endangered hammerhead sharks will be designated as a "no-take" species in commercial fishing to safeguard their populations from fishing for their flesh and fins. By June 2027, the goal is to establish a Net-Free Reef, ensuring the protection of threatened species such as dugongs, turtles, and dolphins from the hazards of gill nets.

A survey by market research company Ipsos and non-profit Vegetarianos Hoy sheds light on the growing interest in plant-based foods in Chile. The study found that seventy-three percent of respondents are likely to consume plant-based products of equal or better nutritional quality than their animal-based counterparts, and seventy-two percent would buy them at similar or lower prices. Health benefits, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability were cited as the main reasons for purchasing plant-based alternatives. Plant-based producers in Chile face challenges due to recent legislation that restricts labelling and marketing of plant-based products.

A Ukrainian zoo located in Russian-occupied Kherson has seen significant deaths after flooding caused by the collapse of a major dam. Approximately 300 animals, including monkeys, horses, donkeys, and raccoons, drowned in the floodwaters. The collapse has also harmed a variety of wild animals. For instance, fledgling water birds lost their food sources and nests, and thousands of fish have been seen gasping on mud flats. It will take a decade for the flora and fauna populations to return and adjust to their new reality, according to Kateryna Filiuta, an expert in protected habitats for the Ukraine Nature Conservation Group. 

Animal rights advocates held a protest at a recent interview with British race car driver Lewis Hamilton, where they urged him to speak out against Formula One’s connections to the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Hamilton, who is vegan and an advocate for animal rights, listened to the protestors’ concerns surrounding the welfare of the participating dogs, and responded to them with a thumbs-up. The owner of Formula One, Liberty Media, continues to sponsor the Iditarod through its subsidiary GCI’s $250,000 annual sponsorship. 

Germany has appointed Ariane Kari, a veterinarian and former deputy animal welfare officer in the southern state of Baden-Württemberg, as its first-ever federal animal welfare officer. Her main responsibility is to close the loopholes in and solidify Germany’s animal welfare law, which was enshrined into that country’s constitution in 2002. Kari’s position expires at the end of the current legislative period in 2025 and could be scrapped by the new government at that point.

A year-long BBC investigation has exposed a global monkey torture ring spanning from Indonesia to the US. The investigation revealed that customers in the US, United Kingdom, and other countries were paying Indonesians to torture and kill baby long-tailed macaques on film. The sadistic activities were initially conducted on YouTube before migrating to private groups on the encrypted messaging app Telegram. Police are pursuing the buyers, and several arrests have already been made. The investigation has also identified key suspects involved in the distribution and commissioning of these extreme torture videos.

Iceland's government has announced the suspension of this year's whale hunt until August 31th, citing concerns over animal welfare. A recent monitoring report by the country’s Food and Veterinary Authority found that the killing of the animals took too long to be consistent with the Animal Welfare Act. This move is likely to mark the end of the controversial practice in Iceland, as the sole remaining whaling company, Hvalur, holds a license to hunt fin whales until 2023, but its profitability has diminished, casting doubt on its future operations.

United States (US) regulators have granted approval for the sale of chicken made from animal cells, marking the first time such a product has been authorized. Two California companies, Upside Foods and Good Meat, have been given the green light to offer cultivated meat to restaurants and, eventually, supermarkets. The move represents a significant step toward animal welfare and reducing environmental impacts associated with traditional meat production. Although the products are currently more expensive and limited in production, the companies aim to introduce them in exclusive restaurants initially.

Amidst the wildfires near Halifax, Nova Scotia, Lisa Parsons, the manager of Pampered Paws Inn, has been rescuing animals and coordinating volunteer efforts. When a wildfire erupted in Tantallon, Parsons saved eighteen dogs from her kennel, as well as pets from neighbouring homes, all on foot. She has been working to reunite lost pets with their owners, while also finding temporary shelter for her own family, including four dogs and two cats. Parsons’ rescue efforts continue as new evacuations are issued.

Biologist Steeve Côté warns that the increased frequency of forest fires in Quebec could have lasting effects on wildlife. Unlike ecosystems that can tolerate frequent fires, the boreal forest in eastern Quebec faces them only every 150 to 200 years. The increased frequency poses challenges for wildlife, particularly smaller species that struggle to cope. Maxim Larrivée, the director of the Montreal Insectarium, said: "Unfortunately those are all manifestations of climate change that as a scientific community, we have been warning society were going to happen.”

Over 800 farm animals in Quebec's Abitibi-Témiscamingue region have been temporarily relocated to protect them from raging forest fires. Livestock from six large farms and several farmhouses have been evacuated, with arrangements made to find suitable places for them. Despite the challenges of agitated animals and limited housing options, the relocation operation has been ongoing, aided by volunteers. However, space is becoming scarce, raising concerns about future evacuations.

The Oakville and Milton Humane Society (OMHS) in Ontario says they suspect that three “malnourished and undersocialized” dogs found on Oakville’s streets could be related. The OMHS is seeking information after the dogs arrived with numerous signs of neglect, said Stephanie Aleksich, the shelter’s Animal Protective Services Manager. The three dogs that were turned in include an older female, who is blind in one eye and diabetic, as well as two other younger dogs. Aleksich hopes that “with the public’s help, [the OMHS] can identify who the owner or owners are.” She says the shelter is witnessing an increase in dogs being turned in across the region.

Randy and Carla Radford of Roblin, Manitoba, have appealed to the provincial authorities to send a trapper to kill the wolves that are attacking their ranch's cattle. Despite their efforts to deter the wolves, the problem persists. Although compensation is available for livestock harmed by wolves through the Wildlife Damage Compensation Program, the Radfords have received minimal compensation due to the lack of evidence caused by the wolves dragging away carcasses. Since May 10th, the Radfords have lost seventeen calves but were only compensated for two because they could not locate the remains of the others.

After eleven pilot whales washed ashore in Port Hood, Nova Scotia, local residents were able to push three back into the water, according to the Marine Animal Response Society’s Executive Director Tonya Wimmer. Five teenage boys were on their bicycles when they noticed the whales on the shore and decided to get off and try to help them. The boys say they were able to save three of the whales, including a baby. Wimmer explained that the whales were likely stranded as a result of them following a food source toward the shore and not being able to leave when the tide receded. 

The Alberta Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) in Edmonton had its animal transport van stolen, but it was later recovered without its catalytic converter. The thieves crashed the van through the back gate of the society's premises and stole various items, including computers, tablets, a credit card, cash, and gift cards. A police report was filed, and while no animals were harmed, the AARCS expressed disappointment over the loss of crucial equipment for their operations.

A new study produced by the National Capital Commission (NCC) has found that over one hundred animals die each year on roads near Gatineau Park, with the majority of deaths occurring near ecological corridors vital for wildlife. Stéphane Wojciechowski, the NCC’s Senior Manager for Natural Resources and Land Management, explains that this is due to major roads breaking the “ecological connectivity” that ecological corridors create, leaving animals with no other option but to cross them. Between 2015 and 2022, there were 938 recorded animal mortalities on four main roads near the park, which is an average of slightly more than 117 each year.