RSS
ALDF Study Names "Best Places for Animal Abusers"
May 17, 2011
Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories and Alberta are the best provinces and territories in Canada to be an animal abuser, according to a new report released today by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF).
Based on a detailed comparative analysis of the animal protection laws of each jurisdiction, researching thirteen distinct categories of provisions throughout hundreds of pages of statutes, the report recognizes the provinces and territories where laws protecting animals have real teeth, and calls out those like Quebec and Nunavut—the worst in Canada this year for animal protection laws—where animal abusers get off easy.
ALDF’s fourth annual report ranks every province and territory on the relative strength and general comprehensiveness of its animal protection laws. The full report, including a rankings map and overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the animal protection laws of each province and territory, is available HERE.
Animal Circuses Coming to Ontario
May 13, 2011
Shrine Circus and Cirque Mondo of Quebec have announced that they will be bringing exotic animals including elephants, jaguars and camels into Ontario to perform at their animal circuses. A schedule of the Ontario dates and cities is as listed below.
Shrine Circus - http://www.shrine-circus.com/schedule.html
June 9 – North Bay
June 11-12 – Barrie
June 14 – Owen Sound
June 15 – Newmarket/York
June 17-19 – Cambridge
June 20 – Woodstock
June 21 – Waterloo
June 22 – London
June 24-26 – Toronto
June 30 – July 3 – Mississauga
July 5 – Sarnia
July 6 – Windsor
July 8-10 – Toronto
July 11 – St. Catharines
July 12 – Belleville
July 13 – Peterborough
July 15-17 – Brampton
July 19 – Hamilton
July 21 – Oshawa
July 22-24 – Vaughan/Richmond Hill/Aurora
July 28 – August 1 – Toronto
August 3 – Kingston
August 5-7 – Ottawa
August 8 – Petawawa
August 9 – Brockville
August 10 – Cornwall
Cirque Mondo – http://www.cirquemondo.com/en/tour.html
May 15 – Kemptville
May 16 – Pembroke
May 17 – North Bay
May 18 – Kirkland Lake
May 21 – Timmins
May 30 – Napanee
May 31 – Cornwall
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) is an incorporated Registered Charity dedicated to advancing public knowledge of animal practices and preventing the abuse and killing of animals through the enforcement of existing laws.
Tax deductible donations can be made on the website using credit card or PayPal at: http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/donate or by contacting the organization to make alternative arrangements.
For more information contact LAW at: info AT lawyersforanimalwelfare.com
CALAS Animal Experimentation Symposium Illegal?
April 30, 2011
The upcoming Canadian Association for Laboratory Animal Science (CALAS) 2011 annual symposium could violate animal welfare laws, says Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW).
The industry convention scheduled to be held from May 14 to May 17, 2011 at the Sheraton Parkway Toronto North Hotel in Richmond Hill, Ontario is advertised to include animal experimentation workshops using live animals including mice and rabbits.
The CALAS conference website, which can be seen HERE, states that workshops will include live demonstrations of rodent blood sampling and surgical implantation, among others.
But bringing the horrors of animal experimentation in the lab to a convention centre could run afoul of animal welfare laws, says Nicholas Wright, a founding director of LAW.
“The Animals for Research Act prohibits animal research including teaching in facilities that are not registered for such purposes; these rules exist for a reason and unfortunately it is no surprise that CALAS could be breaking the law. CALAS is an industry group supportive of animal testing and experimentation,” said Wright.
“There are also bylaws, health regulations and animal welfare laws which look like they could be broken based on the CALAS website,” Wright added.
LAW has sent a letter to CALAS expressing its concerns about potential violations and has alerted the appropriate authorities. The letter sent to CALAS by LAW can be read online HERE.
LAW is not the only group to express concerns about the gruesome workshops. Citizens groups concerned about animal practices at the convention and in laboratories are also planning to make their voices heard. One such group is planning a demonstration outside of the event and have formed a Facebook group which can be seen HERE.
CALAS has yet to formally respond to the concerns regarding the legality of their activities.
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) is an incorporated Registered Charity dedicated to advancing public knowledge of animal practices and preventing the abuse and killing of animals through the enforcement of existing laws.
Tax deductible donations can be made on the website using credit card or PayPal at: http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/donate or by contacting the organization to make alternative arrangements.
For more information contact LAW at: info AT lawyersforanimalwelfare.com
World Week for Animals In Laboratories Events at U of T
Monday April 18 to Saturday April 23, 2011
CruelandUnnecessary.com is holding a series of events for World Week for Animals in Laboratories in and around the University of Toronto campus. The events consist of 2 films, 2 talks and 1 protest. All events are free and open to the public. Nick Wright from Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) will be speaking at the Tuesday event on LAW's student conscientious objectors campaign.
See the Facebook page for this event at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=204698609549123. For more info on research on animals at the University of Toronto see http://www.cruelandunnecessary.com.
Note your attendance on the LAW Meetup.com page here: http://www.meetup.com/lawmeetup/events/17171394/
Monday, April 18
Bahen Centre, 40 St. George St., room 1170 - 7pm
Film showing: "Earthlings" (on the topic of animal rights), followed by guest speakers and discussion.
Trailer: http://www.earthlings.com
Followed by guest speaker: Anya Yushenko, on the successful campaign against euthanization of dogs at University of Guelph. See http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/victories/view/1
Tuesday, April 19
Bahen Centre, 40 St. George St., room 1170 - 7pm
Film showing: "Behind the Mask" (on the topic of animal research and activist resistance to it), followed by guest speakers and discussion.
Trailer: http://www.uncagedfilms.com/trailer.php
Followed by guest speaker: Nick Wright of Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW), on the topic of animals and the law, and the legal right of students to opt out of using animals in research and education. See http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/about/
Wednesday, April 20
OISE, 252 Bloor St. W. room 5170 - 7pm
Organizing a fun and vibrant campaign against research on animals, with Brian Vincent of STOP UBC.
STOP UBC's website: http://stopubcanimalresearch.org
Thursday, April 21
OISE, 252 Bloor St. W., room 2279 - 7pm
The ethical argument against the use of animals in research and education, with Dr. David Sztybel.
Dr. Sztybel's website: http://sztybel.tripod.com/popular_menu.html
Saturday April 23
Dundas & Yonge - 7:30 p.m.
Peaceful protest against animal research with various members of the animal rights movement in Toronto.
Sanctity of Life Belief Found 'Protected' under UK Law
March 9, 2011
Murray Wardrop, Telegraph - Views on foxhunting have been placed on the same legal footing as religion in the UK after a landmark ruling said an animal rights campaigner’s opinions amount to philosophical beliefs.
Joe Hashman yesterday won the right to sue a garden centre for discrimination over allegations that he was sacked when its pro-hunting bosses discovered he was a leading animal welfare activist.
Orchard Park Garden Centre, in Gillingham, Dorset, fought to prevent the 42-year-old bringing the case, claiming he was insincere and that his views did not qualify as philosophical beliefs under employment tribunal rules.
However, a judge has now ruled in favour of Mr Hashman, whose covert video footage helped convict celebrity chef Clarissa Dickson Wright of attending an illegal hare coursing event in 2009.
The decision could pave the way for a flood of similar claims from employees who believe they have suffered in the workplace due to their beliefs.
In his judgment, Judge Lawrence Guyer said: “The claimant has a belief in the sanctity of life.
Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8368934/Foxhunting-views-placed-on-par-with-religion-after-landmark-legal-ruling.html
National Post: Seal slaughter makes no economic sense
March 4, 2011
The National Post, one of Canada's major national newspapers, has published an op ed by Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW)'s own Nick Wright in today's paper.
The article entitled 'Seal slaughter makes no economic sense' can be read at this link: http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2011/03/04/nicholas-depencier-wright-seal-slaughter-makes-no-economic-sense/#more-30223
The article was submitted as part of Nick's work with Humane Society International / Canada to end the Canadian commercial seal slaughter.
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) is an incorporated Registered Charity dedicated to advancing public knowledge of animal practices and preventing the abuse and killing of animals through the enforcement of existing laws.
Tax deductible donations can be made on the website using credit card or PayPal at: http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/donate or by contacting the organization to make alternative arrangements.
For more information contact LAW at: info AT lawyersforanimalwelfare.com
CRA Releases Proposed Guidance for Animal Charities
March 3, 2011
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Charities Directorate, the branch of government responsible for overseeing charities, has released 'proposed guidance for The Promotion of Animal Welfare and Charitable Registration' on their website at: http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/chrts-gvng/chrts/plcy/cnslttns/pwcr-eng.html
The CRA guidance is a policy document that states the CRA's interpretation of existing law and how it intends to enforce it. The guidance is not legally binding in and of itself, rather, it is the CRA's interpretation of the law.
Comments on the draft guidance can be sent to the CRA prior to March 31, 2011 by email at: consultation-policy-politique@cra-arc.gc.ca, by regular mail at: Charities Directorate, Canada Revenue Agency, Ottawa ON K1A 0L5 or by fax at: 1-613-948-1320.
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) is an incorporated Registered Charity dedicated to advancing public knowledge of animal practices and preventing the abuse and killing of animals through the enforcement of existing laws.
Tax deductible donations can be made on the website using credit card or PayPal at: http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/donate or by contacting the organization to make alternative arrangements.
For more information contact LAW at: info AT lawyersforanimalwelfare.com
LAW Releases Pit Bull Seizure Guide
February 28, 2011
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW), an organization that campaigns on behalf of animals, has released a guide to pit bull seizure under the Ontario Dog Owners’ Liability Act.
The guide provides a summary of the relevant legislation and outlines the options available for owners who have their dogs seized pursuant to the Act.
The guide can be downloaded on LAW's website in the resources section at: www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/resources or directly at THIS LINK.
The guide is the latest release in a series of publications put out by LAW to inform and assist the general public on matters relating to animal law.
Lawyers for Animal Welfare (LAW) is an incorporated Registered Charity dedicated to advancing public knowledge of animal practices and preventing the abuse and killing of animals through the enforcement of existing laws.
Tax deductible donations can be made on the website using credit card or PayPal at: http://www.lawyersforanimalwelfare.com/donate or by contacting the organization to make alternative arrangements.
For more information contact LAW at: info AT lawyersforanimalwelfare.com
McGill SALDF Talk on Breed Specific Legislation
In response to a number of highly publicized attacks on people by “pit bull”-type dogs, several provincial and municipal legislatures have enacted Breed Specific Legislation. This legislation ranges from restrictions and conditions on the ownership of certain breeds to outright bans, and often establishes a legal presumption that certain breeds are prima facie “dangerous”. Breed Specific Legislation has been the target of a number of legal challenges, both in Canada and abroad.
On Tuesday, March 15th 2011, the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund at McGill will host an interdisciplinary panel discussion on Breed Specific Legislation. Drawing on their unique expertise, panelists will critically discuss Breed Specific Legislation and the various scientific, policy and legal issues it raises.
The discussion will take place on March 15th at 5:30 pm, in Room 202 of McGill’s Faculty of Law, 3644 Peel Street, Montreal, Quebec.
For more details see: www.saldf.ca
Grey Seal Hunt gets Underway on N.S. Island
February 24, 2011
SYDNEY, N.S. — The grey seal hunt on Nova Scotia's Hay Island got underway Thursday as the weather improved enough to allow hunters, anti-hunt activists and fisheries officers to set out.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans confirmed that all had arrived on the tiny outcrop of rock off eastern Cape Breton.
The department has set a quota of 1,900 animals.
Humane Society International/Canada issued a statement shortly after the hunt began, condemning federal and provincial officials for allowing it to happen in a designated wilderness area.
"What we witnessed is a crime against nature," said Rebecca Aldworth, the society's executive director. "One of the greatest wildlife spectacles on Earth has just been turned into a killing field."
The society is calling on Ottawa to implement a one-time buyout of the commercial sealing industry and to invest in economic alternatives including ecotourism.
Source: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Canada/20110224/seal-hunt-begins-110224/