Animals in Alberta are protected by two pieces of legislation; The Animal Protect Act of Alberta (APA) and the Criminal Code of Canada.
The APA outlines that it is an offence for an animal to be in distress. Distress, according to the Act, is defined as:
- being deprived of adequate food, water, care and/or shelter
- being injured, sick, in pain or suffering
- abused or being subjected to undue hardship, privation or neglect
The Criminal Code of Canada states that it is an offence for anybody to:
- wilfully cause or permits to be caused, unnecessary pain, suffering, or injury to an animal
- abandons [an animal] or wilfully neglects or fails to provide suitable and adequate food, water, shelter or care for it
If you witness an act of cruelty or animal neglect, it is your moral and legal duty to report it. All calls will remain confidential. Please call the Alberta SPCA at 1 800 455 9003.
It has been shown that people who abuse animals also have the potential to be abusing their families. To learn more about this, please visit the Alberta SPCA’s website “Cruelty Connection“