animal welfare in Vancouver
A 2003 report by the Vancouver Humane Society
November 1, 2003
Animal control has long been an issue which municipal government has been required to address. In recent years, the issue of animal welfare has been rising up the public agenda, with local government being called upon to play a part in preventing cruelty, establishing welfare standards and promoting humane treatment of animals. This has happened partially because provincial and federal legislative bodies have neglected to address these issues.
A number of municipalities in British Columbia (and elsewhere in Canada and the US) are responding to these public concerns by passing a variety of bylaws dealing with animal welfare, as well as public health and safety issues relating to human/animal interaction.
The City of Vancouver currently has an animal control bylaw (No. 7528) and a bylaw to “prohibit performances involving certain wild animals in circuses” (No. 6940), but has no other legislation dealing with animal welfare. Historically, it has been claimed that the city has no powers to enact animal welfare bylaws under the provisions of the Vancouver Charter. The Vancouver Humane Society (VHS) is of the view that the charter does permit the city to enact animal welfare bylaws and that such legislation is sorely needed in the city. This report explains the VHS position, makes reference to animal welfare bylaws working in other municipalities and puts forward several ‘model’ bylaws for Vancouver.
