Animal Cruelty Legislation

Hello, 

We are pleased to share with you another big success in our work to better protect animals and to have those in the justice system understand the links between animal violence and human violence.  

On May 6th, 2021, Bill C-3 to Amend the Judges Act and the Criminal Code, passed into law. This Bill requires that new judges agree to undergo training on sexual assault and systemic racism before they're appointed to the bench.  Why is it good news for animals? We are happy to say that our proposal for Judges to be trained on the Violence Link was accepted!  

Violence Link crimes victimize some of the most vulnerable in our society. Perpetrators use animal abuse to coerce, control, and intimidate women, children and elders to be silent about their abuse, preventing them from leaving, and force them to return. Animals and their abuse are often invisible in these crimes, and this training will ensure judges better understand the Violence Link as they preside over cases. 

Humane Canada submitted a statement and an observation asking the Canadian Senate to include training on the Violence Link in this bill, and we are so pleased that it was accepted.  As we continue to drive forward with our goal to secure stronger animal cruelty legislation, we are working to have animals recognized as victims in the Criminal Code, to ban puppy mills and to ban cosmetic testing on animals. It is a slow process but we have seen significant change recently toward a more Humane Canada. 

Thank you so much for your generous donation and support of Animal Cruelty Legislation, we will continue to keep you informed and updated on this important work. 

Links:

• Government Bill C-3
• Humane Canada's work on the Violence Link
• House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights

• BILL C-3: To Amend The Judges Act & Criminal Code (PDF)
  

On March 1st, 2021 new amendments to the Divorce Act 1985 came into force. The amendments shift the focus away from custody and access and instead put the best interests of the child first. 
 
In determining the best interests of the child for the purposes of making a parenting order or a contact order with a child, the court now considers a list of factors set out in Section 16(3) including family violence and its impact. 
 
Family violence is defined in Section 2 as: 
 
“any conduct, whether or not the conduct constitutes a criminal offence, by a family member towards another family member, that is violent or threatening or that constitutes a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour or that causes that other family member to fear for their own safety or for that of another person — and in the case of a child, the direct or indirect exposure to such conduct.” 
 
Specifically, the definition of family violence includes: 
 
“threats to kill or harm an animal or damage property; and the killing or harming of an animal or the damaging of property”. 
 
This change signals legislative recognition of the Violence Link. For example, in theory, where a spouse A has used threats to kill or harm a family pet as a means to control Spouse B, the court can take this into account in assessing the ability or willingness of Spouse A to take care of the child. 
 
This is a welcome step in the right direction. 

Links:

• Full definition of the Divorce Act
• In the news
• Humane Canada's work on the Violence Link