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Animal Welfare and Safety Act.

Country/Territory
Canada
Territorial subdivision
Québec
Document type
Legislation
Date
2015 (2016)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Livestock, Wild species & ecosystems
Keyword
Animal welfare Animal health Cattle Sheep/goats Swine Equine-animals Poultry Ranching/captive breeding Slaughtering Transport/storage Wild fauna Management/conservation
Geographical area
Americas, Arctic, Asia and the Pacific, East Pacific, North America, North Atlantic
Abstract

The purpose of this Act is to establish rules to ensure the protection of animals with a view to guaranteeing their welfare and safety throughout their lives. For the purposes of this Act, “animal”, used alone, means (a) a domestic animal, being an animal of a species or a breed that has been chosen by man to meet certain needs, such as cats, dogs, rabbits, cattle, horses, pigs, sheep, goats and chickens, and their hybrids; red foxes and American mink kept in captivity for breeding purposes with a view to dealing in fur, as well as any other animals or fish, within the meaning of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife (chapter C-61.1), that are kept in captivity for breeding purposes with a view to dealing in fur or in meat or other food products, and that are designated by regulation; and (c) any other animal to which the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife does not apply and that is designated by regulation. The Government may, by regulation, on the conditions and in the manner it determines, exempt a person, an animal species or breed, a type of activity or establishment or a geographical region it determines from the application of all or part of this Act or the regulations. The owner or custodian of an animal must ensure that the animal’s welfare and safety are not compromised. An animal’s welfare or safety is presumed to be compromised if the animal does not receive care that is consistent with its biological needs. Such care includes but is not limited to ensuring that the animal (1) has access to drinking water and food of acceptable quality in sufficient quantity; (2) is kept in a suitable place that is sanitary and clean with sufficient space and lighting and the layout or use of whose facilities are not likely to affect the animal’s welfare or safety; (3) is allowed an opportunity for adequate exercise; (4) is provided with the necessary protection from excessive heat or cold and from bad weather; (5) is transported in a suitable manner in an appropriate vehicle; (6) is provided with the necessary care when injured, ill or suffering; and (7) is not subjected to abuse or mistreatment that may affect its health. For the purposes of subparagraph 1 of the first paragraph, snow and ice are not water. A person may not, by an act or omission, cause an animal to be in distress. For the purposes of this Act, an animal is in distress if (1) it is subjected to conditions that, unless immediately alleviated, will cause the animal death or serious harm; (2) it is subjected to conditions that cause the animal to suffer acute pain; or (3) it is exposed to conditions that cause the animal extreme anxiety or suffering. Agricultural activities include, in particular, the slaughter or euthanasia of animals and the use of animals for agricultural purposes or at agricultural exhibitions or fairs. No person may train an animal to fight another animal. No person may own equipment or structures used in animal fights or used in training animals to fight. No person may have any such equipment or structures in their possession. No owner or custodian of an animal may permit the animal to fight another animal or tolerate that the animal fight another animal. No person may load or transport an animal or allow an animal to be loaded or transported in a vehicle if, in particular by reason of infirmity, illness, injury or fatigue, the animal would suffer unduly during transport. However, a person may load and transport an animal described in the first paragraph to take it to a veterinary establishment or the nearest suitable place so that it may promptly receive the care required, provided no needless suffering is inflicted on it in doing so. When an animal is to be slaughtered or euthanized, its owner or custodian or the person who is to perform the act must ensure that the circumstances and the method used are not cruel and cause the animal a minimum of pain and anxiety. The method used must result in rapid loss of sensibility, followed by a quick death. The method must ensure that the animal does not regain sensibility before its death. Immediately after slaughtering or euthanizing the animal, the person who performed the act must ascertain the absence of vital signs.

Full text
English
Website
legisquebec.gouv.qc.ca