Position Statements

Domestic Companion Animals - Dogs

Domestic Companion Animals - Small Animals and Birds

Pet owners have responsibilities to their companion animals and companion animals depend on their owners to meet their needs.  Many small animals and birds have unique dietary and housing requirements that must be understood prior to acquiring one.

Companion animals in our community are suffering. The Ottawa Humane Society promotes responsible animal ownership and encourages responsible ownership practices from anyone who acquires a small animal or pet bird.

The Ottawa Humane Society (OHS) believes this responsible ownership encompasses:

• Research about a prospective companion animal and breed/species before bringing one home
• Responsible acquisition from a reputable source (like a shelter or reputable breeder)
• Species-specific housing, nutrition, grooming and exercise
• Regular veterinary care, including vaccination and spay/neuter where appropriate
• Enrichment and human interaction on a daily basis
• Reward-based training techniques
• Safe and secure confinement
• Adherence to municipal animal control bylaws.

The OHS believes small animals and birds should have daily, supervised out-of-cage exercise and play with their owners in a safe space to meet their physical, psychological and emotional needs. They also should have ongoing access to appropriate toys and hiding/resting places in their cage.

The OHS believes that small animals and birds can be trained using reward-based training techniques. Training and grooming can enhance the pet owner’s bond with their companion small animal or bird.

Caring for a companion animal involves a lifelong commitment to the animal’s well-being during its lifetime.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Spay/Neuter (Sexual Sterilization) of Dogs, Cats and Rabbits

Spay (female) and neuter (male) of dogs, cats and rabbits is a necessary requirement for both the effective control of the unwanted animal population and for providing health benefits to the animal.

The Ottawa Humane Society supports:

• The sterilization of dogs, cats and rabbits not intended for responsible breeding purposes
• Early (prepuberal) spaying/neutering of cats and dogs in the care of an animal shelter
• Differential licensing rates based on sterilization status for dogs and cats. Differential rates have been proven to increase the number of spayed/neutered dogs and cats, reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats, and reduce the costs for municipal enforcement and animal control
• All organizations involved in the sale or adoption of dogs, cats and rabbits to incorporate a spay/neuter program as part of their sale or adoption procedures.

Spay/neuter not only aids in reducing pet overpopulation but also carries additional behavioural and health benefits for sterilized companion animals. Benefits include the reduction of sexual behaviours (marking, aggression, roaming, etc.) and the risk of some diseases under hormonal influence (cancers, pyometra, prostatic diseases, etc.). As is the case for all veterinary procedures, owners should consult with their veterinarians to discuss the implications of, and determine the optimum age for, the spaying/neutering of their pet.

Having a dog, cat or rabbit spayed or neutered is an essential component of responsible pet ownership and the most effective way of decreasing the proliferation of unwanted dogs, cats and rabbits.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Companion Animal Identification

Identification of dogs and cats is a necessary requirement for the successful return of lost animals.

The Ottawa Humane Society supports the following companion animal identification practices:

• Licensing and both visible and permanent identification of companion animals
• The use of collars and tags that provide fast visual recognition
• Permanent identification via microchip insertion as the PREFERRED method of identification
• Tattoos that are humanely administered by qualified personnel causing little or no discomfort or distress to the animal, which are an acceptable, but less reliable, method of identification.

Proper and up-to-date identification, as well as active searching are essential tools for the successful return of lost companion animals.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Companion Animal Training

Training companion animals sets the stage for a positive, lifelong relationship.  The OHS supports science-based, humane, reward-based training techniques and equipment that does not frighten, inflict pain, abuse or harm animals.

The OHS believes that, to build a trusting bond with their companion animal, the owner must be actively involved in the training process.

Consistent and on-going training allows owners to:

• Establish and maintain a trusting bond with their companion animal
• Teach new skills to their companion animal
• Modify their companion animal’s unwanted behaviour
• Spend productive time with their companion animal.

The investment in ongoing training helps to keep animals in their homes by reducing the chances of animals being relinquished or re-homed due to unwanted and/or unmanageable behaviours.

Read more information on dog training.

Read more information on cat training.

Read more information on crate training.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Breeding Practices

The OHS supports companion animal breeders who are committed to providing a high level of care to their animals and breed social animals that are well-suited to life as companion animals.

The OHS supports responsible breeders who place a priority on the following aspects of their responsible breeding program:

• The health and well-being of the breeding pair
• The short- and long-term health and well-being of the offspring
• The promotion of strong genes and the cessation of breeding when an inherited disorder or behavioural issue is identified
• The overall species population.

The OHS supports responsible breeding practices that select for good temperament, sound structure and no known health or inherited disorders.

The OHS supports breeders who educate themselves in order to recognize inherited disorders and to discontinue breeding and/or sterilize animals who could pass on these disorders.

The OHS encourages the sterilization of animals that display fear or aggression, as fear can be acquired in offspring through genetics, stress during pregnancy and maternal behaviour.

The OHS further encourages breeders to start socialization at the onset of the sensitive period for socialization and ensure positive early-life experiences.

The OHS opposes the selective breeding of animals that produces changes in bodily form and/or function, behaviour or temperament that are detrimental to the health and/or quality of life of the animal or resulting offspring. The OHS supports the updating of breed standards to remove conformations which may prove detrimental to an animal’s health and/or welfare.

The OHS strongly encourages people to research breed types, breeding facilities, breeding parents and offspring prior to acquiring an animal to ensure they find the right match and are acquiring a companion animal from a reputable source. Understanding specific breed traits and possible inherited disorders can minimize the chances of long-term problems with a pet.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Wild or Exotic Animals as Companion Animals

Wild animals are native species that are not domesticated.

Exotic animals (also known as introduced species) are animals that are not indigenous to this area and instead have been accidentally or deliberately transported by human activity.

Wild or exotic animals are often acquired without knowledge of their health and behavioural needs, including specific physiological, nutritional, psychological, social, environmental, physical needs — many of which cannot be met when these animals are kept as pets.

The OHS believes that the best place for wild or exotic animals is in their natural environment because it is nearly impossible to meet the needs of a wild or exotic animal outside of its natural setting.

The OHS opposes the importing, taming, ownership, breeding, selling or trafficking of any wild or exotic animal, including hybrids, as companion animals. The OHS also opposes any surgical procedure designed to make a wild or exotic animal safer for human handling.

The OHS supports the humane relocation of any wild or exotic animal kept as a companion animal, under expert consultation, to an appropriate environment, such as a sanctuary.

The OHS supports the City of Ottawa Animal Care and Control BY-LAW NO. 2003 – 77, which prohibits most exotic and wild animals in our community.

The OHS supports Humane Canada in urging the provincial and federal governments to develop legislation banning the keeping of wildlife and/or exotic animals and to ban their importation and sale.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Palliative Care

Palliative care is a personal choice owners may make when their pet is suffering from an incurable illness, where pain medication and diet are managed by a veterinarian to make the pet’s final days (or weeks) at home with their family as peaceful as possible.

The Ottawa Humane Society believes that owners whose companion animals suffer from incurable illness are responsible for providing suitable palliative care (under the care of a veterinarian) or for seeking humane euthanasia if the animal’s suffering cannot otherwise be alleviated.

Willfully neglecting or failing to provide suitable care for an animal, regardless of the animal’s life stage or prognosis, results in an animal suffering and constitutes as an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada.

The Ottawa Humane Society believes that, because many animals do not exhibit pain in an apparent manner, the owner cannot alone make a determination of their animal’s level of suffering. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the pet owner to consult with a veterinarian regarding any decisions around palliation and/or euthanasia.

Should an owner opt for palliative care for their companion animal, they are responsible for consulting with a veterinarian to establish a care plan for that animal and for regularly following up with a veterinarian to assess the animal’s condition, including providing for any veterinary treatment required to meet the animal’s needs.

During the time that palliative care is administered, the owner is responsible for ensuring that all of the animal’s needs are met to keep the animal clean and comfortable. Owners should be aware that, as an animal’s health declines, these needs may become time-consuming and onerous. The animal may require toileting on a frequent basis, including throughout the night, may require additional grooming (including more frequent bathing, clipping of hair and nails) and hand-feeding.

Palliative care remains a viable option only as long as an animal’s pain can be managed as determined by a veterinarian and only as long as an owner remains able to meet the care needs of the animal; thereafter, the only humane option is euthanasia.

The Ottawa Humane Society recognizes the pain and heartache involved with the loss of a beloved companion animal and encourages owners to always place their animal’s welfare above their own feelings.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Euthanasia of Companion Animals at the OHS

An important part of the OHS Mission is to provide a compassionate community for all animals.

The OHS keeps every adoptable animal until the right home is found, regardless of length of stay.

The OHS acknowledges that humane euthanasia is considered necessary when an animal is:

• Suffering severely or incurably
• Dangerous to the public due to unstable temperament
• Professionally assessed as not suitable for adoption, either medically and/or behaviourally, using a best-practices protocol.

The OHS supports the use of only the most humane methods of euthanasia available, and that those methods are performed only by trained veterinary personnel, assuring minimal discomfort, fear and anxiety for the animal.

The OHS believes that responsible ownership of companion animals, especially through training, spaying/neutering and proper identification, reduces the necessity of euthanasia in animal shelters.

The OHS offers a pet loss support group at no charge for those who have lost a companion animal.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Cosmetic and Elective Surgeries

The OHS opposes elective surgical or other invasive procedures performed on animals for cosmetic reasons, competitive reasons or behavioural reasons. Examples of elective surgeries include, but are not limited to: tail docking, ear cropping and declawing.

The OHS encourages breed associations to reduce unnecessary pain and suffering endured by animals in competition by changing their breed standards, to ensure cosmetic procedures are not required for competition.

The OHS believes that declawing cats can result in unnecessary suffering and avoidable pain and adverse behavioural effects.  As such, it should only be performed when recommended by a veterinarian for medical reasons. The OHS supports alternatives to declawing of cats and provides information on these alternatives.

The OHS supports efforts to abolish cosmetic surgical practices and improve elective surgical practices for domestic animals in order to maintain the highest level of welfare and to minimize any unnecessary pain or distress.

The OHS recognizes that identification and processing of farm animals often involves castration, dehorning, branding, tail docking, ear tagging, nose rings, and tooth clipping, among other invasive procedures. The OHS encourages the selection of less invasive forms of identification and performing surgical procedures under the guidance of a veterinarian using anesthetics where appropriate which can minimize pain, distress and suffering to animals and can lead to greater production gains.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Companion Animal Suppliers

The OHS supports the adoption of companion animals from humane societies and their partner adoption locations, as well as other responsible animal welfare organizations, animal shelters, pounds and responsible breeders.

The OHS opposes the for-profit sale of companion animals in retail pet stores and through online marketplaces. These sources may not provide sufficient information about animal care requirements and often promote impulse buying. They may also contribute to sourcing animals for sale from puppy and kitten mills, and other substandard breeding operations.

Puppy and kitten mills are usually homes or farms where people collect and breed dogs and cats with the goal of producing as many animals as possible in order to maximize profit. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and lack of proper nutrition, ventilation, and veterinary care are common conditions in many of these mills. These conditions often lead to poor animal socialization and poor animal health and contribute to the overpopulation of pets.

The OHS urges the public to learn how to recognize and avoid puppy and kitten mills and other substandard breeding operations.

The OHS supports the acquisition of animals from responsible breeders and the breeding of companion animals only when the animal breeders are committed to providing a high level of care and the physical and psychological well-being of their animals, and who place a priority on the following aspects of a responsible breeding program:

• The health and well-being of the breeding pair
• The short- and long-term well-being of the offspring
• The promotion of strong genes and the cessation of breeding when an inherited disorder is identified
• The overall species population.

The OHS strongly encourages people to research breed types, breeding parents, and previous offspring, and to visit breeding facilities prior to purchasing a cat or dog from a breeder. Further, the OHS recommends that prospective adopters research the history of the animal to ensure a good fit between the animal’s needs and the adopter’s lifestyle. For information go to Humane Canada’s Essential Questions to Ask a Breeder Checklist.

The OHS recommends the licensing of companion animal suppliers and supports the licensing of breeders including the establishment of codes and standards for the care, housing and treatment of animals. A good model for such codes can be viewed through the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association Kennel Code of Practice.

The OHS believes that, at a minimum, companion animal suppliers must provide animals in their care with the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.

 Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Animals as Prizes or Unsolicited Gifts

The OHS opposes the giving of live animals as prizes or unsolicited gifts. The OHS believes the acquisition of pets should be a deliberate and conscious decision. Owning an animal requires planning and preparation prior to acquisition as well as long-term responsibility and commitment. Acquiring an animal as a prize or unsolicited gift does not allow for such preparation and can lead to suffering.

The OHS believes that gifting of an animal must involve the informed consent and preparedness of the recipient and animals should be obtained from reputable and responsible sources.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Aggressive or Dangerous Animals

The OHS strongly believes that it is the responsibility of the owner to ensure their animal does not harm people or other animals. Animal owners are also responsible for knowing and adhering to the municipal bylaws based on where the owners reside.

The OHS recommends the enforcement of municipal licensing and animal control laws. Non-compliance by animal owners or handlers can and should result in heavy fines.

The OHS encourages responsible ownership, including spaying/neutering, socializing and training of all pets to reduce overpopulation and preventing and/or safely managing aggressive or unwanted behaviour. The OHS supports only humane training using reward-based training techniques.

The OHS recommends the use of basket muzzles in public for dogs that have a history of aggressive behaviours or biting.  Properly-fitted basket muzzles safeguard the health of dogs by allowing them to pant and drink while muzzled and reduces their ability to make contact with their teeth when out in the community safeguarding animals and people when out in public. The OHS encourages owners to train their dogs to tolerate or enjoy wearing a muzzle using reward-based training techniques. Muzzle training improves both the dog’s experiences and the owner’s satisfaction with their dog’s muzzle use and increases compliance with muzzle orders.

The OHS opposes breed-specific bans, such as the ban on pit bulls in the Ontario Dog Owner’s Liability Act, and believes such bans are not an effective way to protect the public from aggressive or dangerous animals.

The OHS strongly encourages prospective owners to research breed types and individuals prior to acquiring a companion animal.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Feral Cats

A feral cat is an unowned, free-roaming cat that has never lived with or been socialized to humans. Feral cats are a domesticated species that now live as wild animals.

A feral cat is distinct from a stray cat, even if the cat has been stray for a long period of time. It is also distinct from a “loosely-owned” or “porch” cat, which is a cat that is fed by one or more people in a neighbourhood who do not accept full responsibility for the cat’s care.  Stray and loosely-owned cats are, or were, once socialized to humans.

Feral cats occupy a grey zone in the world of animal welfare.  They are not wildlife per se. They are interlopers in the natural world and can cause considerable destruction in wild bird and mammal populations.  They were introduced through human irresponsibility, and therefore are a human responsibility.

The OHS believes feral cat populations should be managed in a humane way, including reducing the number of unowned cats, improving the welfare of the cats themselves and minimizing potential public health risks.

The OHS believes that the goal of feral cat management programs should be gradually to eliminate feral cat colonies by maintaining them in a healthy state and preventing them from reproducing, leading to the eventual attrition of members.

The OHS supports feral cat management programs that adopt a “stabilize and maintain” approach. This approach provides a multi-faceted way of dealing with the issue, including:

• The removal of suitable cats and kittens for rehabilitation and adoption
• The maintenance of healthy cats deemed unsuitable for adoption using the TTVNR approach (trap, test for infectious diseases, vaccinate, neuter and return)
• The monitoring and care of feral cat colonies by community caretakers
• The euthanasia of diseased cats whose health is deemed unrecoverable or illness poses a risk to other cats.

The OHS believes that feral cat colonies can be prevented through responsible cat ownership, including:

• Proper licensing and identification
• Sterilization to prevent roaming and unwanted kittens
• Vaccination to prevent the spread of disease
• Only allowing cats outside on a harness and under owner supervision
• Not feeding stray cats…

The OHS believes that the management of feral cat colonies should be a responsibility shared by the community. It is imperative that key stakeholders work together to manage a feral cat situation effectively in both the short- and long-term. The OHS encourages responsible pet ownership and seeks to reduce feral cat colonies through ongoing public awareness and education initiatives, including the importance of sterilization and the consequences of allowing cats to roam, the OHS Feral Cat Program, OHS Mobile Spay and Neuter Services Program and ongoing partner support programs.

Approved by OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Animals in the Entertainment Industry

The Ottawa Humane Society is opposed to the use of any animal in entertainment acts or displays that may cause physical or psychological harm or where the animal lacks appropriate socialization or access to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare. These acts may include, but are not limited to, circuses, rodeos, racing, fighting, exotic animal attractions and roadside or travelling zoos.

The OHS considers the following to be inhumane in any circumstance:

• Aversive, abusive, cruel, intimidating or stressful training techniques, devices or agents to cause animals to perform
• Administration of any drug or surgical procedure for non-therapeutic purposes in order to alter the performance or behaviour of animals
• Roping other than for purposes of husbandry care and veterinary treatment
• Forcing any animal to pull weights for competition
• Games involving chasing and/or catching an animal
• Events where betting or prize money is tied to an animal’s performance
• Housing a wild or exotic animal in an environment that does not take into account the animal’s natural, physical, psychological and social needs
• Transporting any animal in a way that does not maintain all of the five freedoms.

The OHS supports activities that fulfill animals’ physical, psychological and social needs.

The OHS recognizes that the use of animals in entertainment is a legal activity and believes that at a minimum, only domestic animals should be used for such activities and, when not performing, these animals must be provided with an environment that fulfills physical, psychological and social needs.

In the event that a wild or exotic animal is already being used for entertainment purposes, the OHS supports the humane relocation to an appropriate environment that can meet their needs, such as a reputable animal sanctuary.

Definitions

Wild animals: native species that are not domesticated.

Exotic animals (also known as introduced species): animals that are not indigenous to this area and instead have been accidentally or deliberately transported by human activity.

Domestic animals: have been domesticated by humans over many generations so as to live and breed in a tame condition and depend on humankind for survival.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Zoos and Aquaria

The OHS believes that the best place for wild animals is their natural environments.

The OHS strongly opposes the capture or confinement of any wild animal solely for display, entertainment and/or education purposes in zoos and aquaria. The OHS believes all animals should have access to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.

The OHS believes that where confinement is necessary, animals must be provided with an environment that fulfills their physical, psychological and social needs.

The OHS opposes the selling by zoos or aquaria of their surplus animals for any reason, including hunting or research and supports population control through sterilization and natural attrition.

In the event that a wild or exotic animal is already being used for entertainment purposes, the OHS supports humane relocation to an appropriate environment that can meet their needs, such as a reputable animal sanctuary.

The OHS acknowledges the existence of captive breeding programs, however believes that natural breeding programs involving habitat rehabilitation and wildlife protection are more sustainable alternative.

The OHS supports and encourages public education about wild animals. Viable alternatives to zoos and aquaria exist through video, photos, props and other educational tools; and therefore the OHS supports the humane phasing out of zoos and aquaria through sterilization programs and natural attrition.

The OHS does not support any organizations that:

• Allow direct contact with wild or exotic animals, for example selfies with the animal
• Deal in the trade of importing, exporting or trafficking of wild or exotic animals
• Transport wild or exotic animals in their care for events e.g. birthday parties, camps, day trips or conferences
• Hire staff who are not qualified and properly trained in animal care
• Utilize any animal, wild or domestic, in any way which may cause the animal undue distress, discomfort or fear.

The OHS encourages members of the public to avoid supporting any organization or companies that use wild or exotic animals for entertainment purposes.

Many organizations or companies who use wild or exotic animals may claim that the animals enjoy the interactions and are not distressed. Observing the animal’s body language and behaviour, however, usually reveals that they are experiencing distress and discomfort, which compromise their welfare and five freedoms. Given the unpredictable nature of working with and interacting with wild or exotic animals, there is a significant safety concerns to members of the public and the animal’s keepers during these interactions.

Some groups that use wild or exotic animals for entertainment purposes may claim that their intention is to educate members of the public about these animals. The OHS believes that the information shared about wild or exotic animals could be presented without the use of captive exotic or wild animals present (through videos, photos and use of props). In most cases these groups are profiting from these interactions by charging patrons for these interactions.

The OHS believes that wild or exotic animals have the right to live their lives free of human interference, and in cases where re-release in the wild in not possible, every effort should be made to provide a living environment that simulates that animal’s natural environment through a reputable sanctuary.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Hunting

The OHS opposes hunting to the extent that it inflicts pain and suffering on animals.

The OHS opposes the:

• Hunting of animals for solely recreational purposes
• Hunting of endangered or threatened species (1)
• Hunting of animals for harvesting specific body parts
• Use of lead shot (2), which is likely to poison waterfowl and raptors
• Hunting of animals with the use of dogs
• Baiting or luring of animals with lights, food or sound
• Hunting using canned or compound hunts, where the target animal is confined or tame
• Hunting where the animal is fired on with a remotely-controlled device.

The OHS acknowledges that some forms of hunting are legal activities and recommends that every effort is made by the hunter to inflict minimal suffering, fear and distress.

(1) As defined in the Canadian Species at Risk Act.

(2) Regulations under the Canada Wildlife Act require non-toxic shot (containing less than one per cent by weight of lead) for hunting most migratory game birds.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Trapping and Poisoning

The OHS opposes trapping and poisoning as they inflict pain and suffering on animals.

The OHS opposes trapping and poisoning of animals for fur or recreation.

The OHS acknowledges that some forms of trapping are legal activities and recommends that at a minimum it be carried out in a manner that causes minimal suffering, fear and distress.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Fur Farming

The OHS opposes fur farming as it inflicts pain and suffering on animals solely for fashion.

The OHS opposes the:

• Farming of animals for fur
• Sale of articles containing animal fur

The OHS acknowledges that fur farming is a legal activity and recommends that at a minimum, it be carried out in a manner that causes minimal suffering, fear and distress.

The OHS advocates for fur farming to be performed in a manner consistent with voluntary industry codes of practice on the care, handling and slaughter. For more information on these species-specific, visit the OMAFRA Fur Farming website.

The OHS proudly supports the work of Humane Canada as they:

• Advocate for continual improvements to the standards for farm animal care that are included in Canada’s codes of practice
• Demand improvements to various policies and regulations to improve the treatment of farm animals at the provincial and federal level

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Food Animals

The OHS accepts the husbandry of animals, including fish, for human consumption provided that the production methods are sustainable and in compliance with food production practices that are humane, ethical and sustainable.

The OHS believes that ethical and humane husbandry practices are those that are responsive to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.

The OHS recognizes that identification and processing of farmed animals often involves castration, dehorning, de-beaking, branding, tail docking, ear tagging, nose rings, and tooth clipping, among other invasive procedures. The OHS encourages cruelty-free practices and the selection of less invasive forms of identification, as well as performing surgical procedures under the guidance of a veterinarian using anaesthetics where appropriate. This can minimize pain and suffering to animals and can lead to greater production gains.

The OHS believes pharmaceuticals should be used only for the treatment of illness, disease or injury and opposes:

• Antibiotics in feed in sub-therapeutic amounts
• Growth enhancing hormones
• Any inappropriate use of pharmaceuticals for food animals.

The OHS is opposed to any method of slaughter which does not quickly render the animal totally unconscious prior to being killed.

The OHS believes that transportation of food animals can be the source of unnecessary pain and stress due to duration of travel and over-crowding in trucks and pens. Further, Canadian legislation and regulation regarding animal transport has fallen behind much of the Western world.  Animals, including those which are not accepted for human consumption, must be processed quickly and humanely. The OHS proudly supports the work of Humane Canada as they:

• Advocate for continual improvements to the standards for farm animal care that are included in the National Farm Animal Care Council Codes of Practice.
• Demand improvements to various policies and regulations to improve the treatment of farm animals at the provincial and federal level.

The OHS supports the accurate informational labeling of food animal products to allow consumers to make informed and educated choices on ethical food consumption. The OHS also encourages consumers to incorporate meatless meal planning into their regular routines and encourages people to purchase more humane, ethical, and sustainable food choices.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Urban Wildlife

In an urban environment, humans live in close proximity to many species of wildlife, which may result in human-wildlife conflicts.

The OHS is committed to promoting an understanding and appreciation of urban wildlife, and to promoting humane and effective means for resolving conflicts between wildlife and humans in an urban setting.

In particular:

1. The OHS recommends a preventive humane approach to human-wildlife conflict, including wildlife-proofing of property.
2. The OHS recommends that, where possible, animals and birds be left in place for the short-term during the birthing and rearing season.
3. The OHS recommends that the feeding of birds and wildlife be undertaken only after research to ensure that the feed is safe and appropriate for the species and that it will not have a deleterious effect on animal behaviour such that it contributes to human-wildlife conflict.
4. The OHS accepts live trapping and humane removal as a last resort solution for human-wildlife conflicts, consistent with legislation.

The OHS acknowledges that trapping and relocation of urban wildlife does occur and must be done in conformity with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources laws and regulations.

For more information on how to resolve conflicts between wildlife and people in an urban setting, visit our website.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Research on Companion Animals at the OHS

As a safe haven for stray and homeless companion animals, the OHS is committed to treating animals in its care with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect.

The OHS believes that the majority of these animals have the potential to become loving companions and makes every effort to ensure they find appropriate homes.

The OHS does not sell or transfer companion animals in its care, whether alive or dead, for research purposes, practicing medical procedures or harvesting organs or tissues.

The OHS believes that experimental treatment, such as drug trials, involving companion animals in its care presents a potential conflict of interest with its mission, unless it is deemed medically necessary by veterinary professionals and in the best interests of the animals that would be subjected to the treatment.

The OHS does not support or permit unnecessary procedures on companion animals in its care, even those which do not inflict harm, including the procurement of blood for transfusions.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Service, Emotional Support, and Working Animals

The OHS believes relationships between companion animals and people have many benefits, including those related to mental, emotional and social well-being.

The OHS continues to recognize the important role that many species of animals can play in assisting people. The OHS believes that service animals play an extremely important role in enabling people with disabilities to function independently or increasing their independence.

The OHS recognizes the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, which states, “Service Animals are used by people with many different kinds of disabilities. Examples of service animals include dogs used by people who are blind, hearing alert animals for people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing, and animals trained to alert an individual to an oncoming seizure and lead them to safety… These animals provide services to individuals helping them function with greater self-sufficiency; prevent injuries; and summon help in a crisis.”

The OHS considers an Emotional Support Animal to be an animal that provides comfort and support to individuals with mental health disorders (e.g. PTSD, autism, anxiety), without being trained to perform specific tasks. The OHS believes that emotional support animals can play a valuable role in aiding individuals living with a variety of mental health conditions.

The OHS believes there is a need for greater recognition and legislation around the use of animals for emotional support and encourages government officials to regulate the training and use of animals for this purpose.

While establishing regulations surrounding the use of animals for emotional support, the OHS believes that the following animal welfare standards must be taken into consideration:

• Safety during transport
• Regulated hours
• Training tests and initial certification
• Regulated re-certification periods.

The OHS does not support the use of wild or exotic animals as service or emotional support animals.

The OHS believes that all animals, including service and emotional support animals, should be entitled to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare at all times. The OHS position concerning acceptable conditions for workings animals can be found in the OHS Position Statement on Working Animals.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Animals in Research, Testing and Teaching

The OHS believes physical, emotional and psychological suffering can be inflicted on animals used for research, testing and teaching. The OHS encourages an end to the use of animals in research, testing and teaching that inflicts pain, fear or distress to animals.

The need to use animals in research can, at the present time, be tolerated only if there is absolutely no alternative, and the animals used are afforded complete protection from pain, fear and stress. The OHS encourages all levels of government, postsecondary institutions, industrial and other research institutions that use animals for research, testing and teaching to develop and use humane alternatives, to minimize pain, fear and stress and ensure physical, social and psychological well-being by providing proper housing, exercise and care and to use research methods that include the replacement, reduction or refinement of animal use (the “Three Rs”), to reduce suffering and physical harm. The OHS believes that all experimental and testing protocols utilizing animals should be subject to extensive ethical reviews.

The OHS will not release companion animals for research.

The OHS opposes:

• The importation of primates from the wild for research purposes
• The use of restraining devices for any prolonged period
• The mandatory surrender of animals from pounds for research, testing or teaching purposes.
• The use of procedures, experiments or animal use which involve needless repetition, or are from scientifically trivial ends, or which involve techniques for which satisfactory and humane alternatives have already been developed. The OHS is especially opposed to the use of animals for testing such items as cosmetic products, household cleaning goods, cigarettes and alcoholic beverages
• The use of muscle relaxants or paralytics alone, without anesthetics. In addition, anesthesia, tranquilization, analgesia and euthanasia must only be administered by trained researchers and technicians.

The OHS supports:

• Appointing animal welfare representatives on all animal care and grant review committees. These committees must be accountable to the public
• Requiring education for all those involved with research animals to include courses in ethology, ethics, manipulative procedures and current laws, regulations, guidelines and codes of practice regarding laboratory animal care
• Requiring improvement and enforcement of pertinent laws relating to the use of animals in research, testing and teaching
• Urging the ongoing review of the Canadian Council on Animal Care Guidelines for the “Care and Treatment of Animals in Research” as these Guidelines represent the absolute minimal level of care available.

Dissection is unnecessary for pre-college, science-related studies and does not demonstrate or encourage respect for living beings. The OHS supports legislation to prohibit elementary and secondary school students from performing unnecessary experiments on animals which cause or could cause pain, suffering or death. Students who object to experimenting on animals or dissecting animals should be provided an opportunity to choose alternate projects, approved by their teachers, without a grade reduction, such as computer-simulations. In postsecondary and professional studies, the use of dissection should be limited to the use of ethically sourced cadavers and where possible the reduction, refinement or replacement of animal use (the Three R’s).

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.

Animal Care Training at the OHS

As a safe haven for stray and homeless companion animals, the OHS is committed to treating animals in its care with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect.

The OHS acknowledges that training using live animals is necessary to assist in educating the next generation of animal care providers.

The OHS is committed to providing an environment that meets the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare for all animals in its care, as well as ensuring all handling practices are free of fear, distress and pain. Training and intervention at the OHS is reward-based.

At the OHS, training in medical interventions is limited to those procedures deemed necessary in the treatment or rehabilitation of animals in its care, including routine testing and diagnostics.  Such procedures may be carried out by students provided that they have been assessed as having attained the required stage in their education and that they are working under the supervision of a qualified veterinary professional.

The OHS permits training in non-medical procedures, such as grooming, provided that the animals are not harmed or distressed and benefit from such procedures, that the procedure will not negatively impact or unduly delay its adoption into an appropriate home, and the procedure is carried out within a formal OHS program structure.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Working Animals

The OHS recognizes that many species of animals are used by people to assist them in a range of work activities.

The OHS believes that working animals should have the same level of care and commitment to their individual welfare as is expected for companion animals.

The OHS believes that humane and ethical husbandry practices for working animals must ensure that the animal’s welfare takes precedence over any other objective.

The OHS does not support the use of wild or exotic animals as working animals.

The OHS supports the humane relocation of unwanted or retired working animals to an appropriate environment.

Because no legislation exists that is specific to the care and treatment of working animals, the OHS believes that, at a minimum working animal practices must be responsive to the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare.

The OHS encourages the establishment of a national Code of Practice for working animals. Such a code would provide guidance on issues specific to work animals such as training methods, hours of work, rest breaks, appropriate equipment, transportation and retirement at the completion of the animal’s working career.

Definitions

Working animals: animals that are used by a person to enable the person to accomplish a task related to earning a living, to enhancing the person’s capacity to live independently or to support public safety. Examples include service and guide dogs, working cats, police, bomb-sniffing and drug detection dogs, among others.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors March 2021.

Pesticides

Pesticides are poisons. They are not without risk and should always be used and stored with care.  Ingested pesticides can cause severe pain, uncontrollable seizures, and death by asphyxiation or internal bleeding in animals. They can also damage vision, balance and other faculties. Pesticides include herbicides, fungicides, insecticides and rodenticides.

Pets are exposed to a higher concentration of pesticides because of their direct contact to the ground and the fact that they use their noses and mouths to explore and lick themselves clean.  As well, their smaller size lowers their toxic threshold.

The OHS recommends that anyone using pesticides take a precautionary approach to the handling, storage and disposal of pesticides as improper storage or usage is responsible for the majority of acute animal poisonings.

The OHS recommends that caution always be used when choosing and applying insecticides (such as flea and tick products) on animals, or in their environment, as misuse of these products can be harmful.  For example, some products that are safely used on dogs can be deadly to cats, even in small amounts.  It is important to consult with a veterinarian before using any insecticide product of an animal.

Further, pesticides can enter the ecosystem and a have a detrimental effect on wildlife and/or enter the food chain.

The OHS supports safe alternative approaches such as integrated pest management (animal proofing) to the use of rodenticides since the intended purpose of these products is to kill rodents through internal bleeding. These products put all other animals at risk as well.

The OHS recommends the use of pesticide-free products and humane trapping methods as safer alternatives. Products or techniques should be humane, scientifically based, have minimal environmental or human health impacts and must adhere to legislation.

For more information on integrated pest management (IPM) visit the Health Canada website.

For more information on pest control (including IPM) visit the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association website.

Approved by the OHS Board of Directors June 2021.