Animal Welfare Program Statistics
January to December 2019 (Q1-Q4)
Total number of animal welfare cases filed: 1104
Animal Welfare Case Status
Figure 1 represents inspection findings relating to whether owners were deemed non-compliant, complaint dismissed, inconclusive or abandoned under The Animal Care Act.
*The percentage of all animal welfare cases will not total 100% as multiple statuses may be associated with each case. Animal welfare cases may still be on-going, therefore, are not always complete.
Definition
| Non-Compliant | An owner is found to be non-compliant with requirements with animal care as per The Animal Care Act based on inspection findings by an Animal Protection Officer. | |||
| Complaint Dismissed | Owner is found to be providing care to animals in compliance with The Animal Care Act, resulting in the case being closed. | |||
| Inconclusive | An Animal Protection Officer is unable to determine whether an owner is providing care to an animal in compliance with The Animal Care Act (i.e. unable to locate animal and or owner of concern). | |||
| Abandoned | Refer to The Animal Care Act Section 1(1) for definition. | |||
| 1(1)(a) Example: A dog found tied to a lamp post without any known owner. | 1(1)(b) Example: An animal found in a rented apartment after their lease has expired, or they have been evicted. | 1(1)(c) Example: An animal has been found at a premises without a caregiver in place after the owner has been hospitalized or taken to prison. | 1(1)(d) Example: An animal has been left at a boarding facility or veterinarian clinic for greater that four days after the owner agreed in writing to retrieve the animal. | |
Animal Welfare Non-Compliance: Inspection Outcomes
*The percentage of identified non-compliances in animal welfare cases may exceed 100% as multiple statuses may be associated with each case.
Definition
| Recommendation | Recommendations made by Animal Protection Officer to the owner to achieve compliance under The Animal Care Act (e.g., recommendations to provide an adequately insulated and bedded shelter to an animal housed outdoors). |
| Compliance Following Recommendations | Owner is found to be providing care to animals in compliance with The Animal Care Act after recommendations were made by an Animal Protection Officer as a result of a previous animal welfare inspection. |
| Surrender | An animal owner transfers all rights of ownership of an animal to an Animal Protection Officer. |
| Director's Order | An Order issued to an owner to enforce compliance with Section 2 of The Animal Care Act. This Order can be used if an owner is repeatedly non-compliant with The Animal Care Act and or improvements need to be made to animal care within a short period of time to prevent animals suffering. |
| Issued Notice of Seizure/Custody | A Notice of Seizure/Custody can be issued to an owner when:
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| Issued Notice of Distress | A Notice of Distress can be issued to an owner when an animal is found to be suffering to such a degree it is inhumane to allow the animal to continue to live. The animal is seized by an Animal Protection Officer, then humanely euthanized. |
Animal Care Appeal Board: Appeals
Figure 3 represents the percentage of cases for which an appeal occurred as a result of issuing a Director’s Order or Notice of Seizure/Custody/Distress.
*The percentage of animal welfare cases eligible to appeal may not total 100% as multiple statuses may be associated with each case. Animal welfare cases may still be on-going, therefore, are not always complete.
Definition
| Appeal | An Appeal can occur when an owner disagrees with the actions taken by an Animal Protection Officer which results in animals being seized, being taken into custody, or the owner being issued an Order under The Animal Care Act. |
Species Inspected
Figure 4 represents the range of species of animals inspected under The Animal Care Act.
*The percentage of all animal welfare cases may not total 100%. Multiple species may be associated with each case.
Top 5 Animal Welfare Concerns
Figure 5 represents the 5 most common animal welfare concerns for non-compliance under The Animal Care Act.
*The percentage of violations reported may exceed 100% as multiple statuses may be associated with each case.
For more information, please contact the Chief Veterinary Office (CVO).
