On June 28th, 2019, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA), discontinued enforcement of the cruelty provisions in provincial legislation.
The Northumberland Humane Society, as of July 25, 2019, now has an interim contract to enforce animal protection for Northumberland County. Accountable to the Chief Inspector, the NHS will enforce the law with a new division that will include a hotline to report cases of animal cruelty and neglect. This interim enforcement team will continue while the Province develops a new animal welfare model.
In keeping with its mandate to protect animals, the NHS will provide animal welfare enforcement services throughout Northumberland County. “This is a huge win for the animals in Northumberland County,” said Kate Lennan, General Manager of the Northumberland Humane Society. “This takes a tremendous weight off of the municipalities and law enforcement in terms of attending to animal cruelty matters. The Northumberland Humane Society remains dedicated to animal welfare and will ensure that at-risk animals will be protected until such time that the province develops a new enforcement model.”
The NHS has been providing animal welfare and supportive services in the community for over 50 years. In addition to direct enforcement services, the NHS will continue to provide education to owners about standards of care and connect animals and owners with any necessary supportive services. This is in concordance with the NHS’s established relationships with veterinarians, justice, health and social services, and the local police services.
Some may not know that the Northumberland Humane Society was established in 1966 and continues to be the leader in animal welfare and support services for the Northumberland community. The NHS is the only registered charity animal shelter in Northumberland County. Committed to providing continued support to pets and pet owners in Northumberland County, NHS has relied upon the generous support of the local community since its inception. Without this support, many animals would not have been given a second chance at a happy and healthy life.
With the newly established relationship with the Ministry, anyone can report a case of animal cruelty and neglect in Northumberland County by contacting the Northumberland Humane Society’s Animal Welfare Enforcement Line at 905-269-9409, or toll-free at 1-833-926-4625.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
