Newsletter
January 2020
Dear animal lover,
Here's our January newsletter, highlighting the latest news on animal rescues and animal welfare across Quebec and Ontario (click the bolded words to read the full stories). If you have any news or upcoming events you'd like us to share next month, send us an email at admin@guardiansbest.com.
Thank you,
Melanie Dziengo
Article of the Month
An end of the year wrap up of 2019's news headlines
By: Melanie Dziengo
This year has been busy, and a lot has happened in the animal community, both in Ontario and Quebec. Here are the animal news headlines that captured us this year (in no particular order).
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The Government of Ontario working its way toward overturning the pit bull ban.
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For the first time, Party 4 Paws was held in Toronto! You can read more about the events here.
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The Canadian House of Commons approved changes to Bill C-84 in February. The changes were made to improve the law in regards to beastiality and animal fighting.
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Veterinarians in Alberta voted to ban tail docking, ear cropping, and declawing. They joined British Columbia, Quebec (however Quebec has yet to ban declawing), and all four Atlantic provinces in the ban.
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A bill to end the captivity of whales and dolphins became law.
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A Toronto condo building diverts dog poop from the landfill -- and uses it to create energy.
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In August, Montreal pet store owners lost their bid to suspend a city bylaw banning the sale of cats, dogs, and rabbits that are not from shelters or veterinary clinics.
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We launched the #RescueHeroes campaign. You can read more about it here.
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Toronto Animal Services saw a significant drop in the number of euthanizations done, and the number of animals taken in by city-run shelters has dropped to less than half of what it was 10 years ago.
In November, the Court of Appeal for Ontario confirmed the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ policing powers, striking down several rulings.
News
The Government of Ontario introduced new legislation that would create “animal protection zones,” and increase trespassing fines, when on farms and food processing facilities, last month.
A research study, conducted at the University of Guelph, confirms what we already know about cats: They are hard to read. The study was based off of YouTube videos, and resulted in 6,300 responses from 85 countries.
An Ontario man is warning others about a dog breeder after he spent almost $3,000 correcting a condition in his long-haired German shepherd that veterinarians told him was genetic.
The Government of Ontario passed new animal welfare legislation, and comes with stiffer penalties for cruelty offences. The law will come into effect on January 1, and will be enforced by a specialized team of provincial inspectors.
A research study has found that dogs may actually be smarter than we think, and have a positive effect on our health. The study was conducted at the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom, and analyzed 42 dogs of various breeds. The study found that dogs could detect slight changes in words spoken by humans, and recognize different voices from various speakers.
Save Our Scruff made its last trip of the year in December, travelling from Tennessee to the Greater Toronto Area. They brought with them dogs from Mexico, El Salvador, and Egypt for them to find their forever homes in Canada.
Toronto Animal Services officers are struggling to meet the demand of the soaring number of calls they receive. Staffing levels have stagnated since 2014, forcing staff to do more with less, leading to exhaustion.
Animal rescuers from two provinces are travelling to Little Bay Islands, Nfld. to rescue feral cats because people there are resetting in other parts of Newfoundland. The cats will be transported to Nova Scotia.
Whispering Hearts Horse Rescue in Ontario is helping a horse named Apollo learn to trust humans, which is not an easy task due to his wild temperament and because he is blind in one eye.
A dog named Charlie, who was stolen from Kipling Station in the fall after his owner suffered a medical episode, has been returned by a Good Samaritan. The dog was returned with updated shots and a new coat.
Ontario Provincial Police are investigating after 19 puppies were stolen from a barn on a rural property north of Guelph. The dogs were 10 weeks old, and of various breeds.
When you’re out walking your dog, be aware of the dangers of contact voltage, as sidewalks and manhole covers can become electrically charged. It happens when electrical wires fray, and come into direct contact with various surfaces, and occurs more often in the winter due to freezing and thawing.
If you’re in Montreal, a bylaw is coming into effect on January 1, wherein all cats and dogs (over six months) must be microchipped. Furthermore, cats, dogs, and rabbits must be sterilized by the same date. The moves are intended to help owners find lost pets, and curb over-population and behavioural issues, respectively.
A cemetery in Laval, called Magnus Poirier Funeral Home, is allowing pets and humans to be buried together. Prices vary, and owners can choose plot size and the tombstone.
Therapy dogs are helping passengers at various Canadian airports, including Toronto and Montreal, relieve their stress. The practice started in Edmonton in 2015, and has grown quickly since.
Canadian Health officials are warning the public about an outbreak of salmonellosis, which is thought to have come from exposure to snakes and rodents. If you have one of these pets, you’re asked to wash your hands often. 52 cases of the outbreak have been reported in Quebec.
A man shot himself in the leg after he allegedly stole a puppy at gunpoint in Brampton, ON. The sale of the puppy was arranged on an online classifieds website, and when the victim arrived to hand over the puppy, the suspect refused to pay and pointed a gun at the victim. The puppy has been returned to its owner.
A Windsor mother and son saved a dog from the Detroit River. When they heard barking, the two quickly jumped into action, and successfully rescued the dog from the cold water. The Windsor-Essex County Humane Society came and dog the dog for the night to help it recover from its ordeal.
Montreal is saying good-bye to horse drawn carriages at the end of this year, putting an end to giving tourists an interesting way to see the city. The reason for the change was because a horse died in 2018. But, this means 50 workers will now be out of a job.
Events of the Month
Brockville, ON - January 1, 2020 - Dive Brockville is hosting a polar bear plunge in support of the Leeds and Grenville Animal Centre. The cost is $25, and can be either fundraised, paid before the event, or at the event itself.
Mississauga, ON - January 11, 2020 - Boxer Rescue Ontario will be at Ren’s Pet Depot in Mississauga. You can meet them, and speak to them about volunteering opportunities.
Ottawa, ON - January 12, 2020 - The Ottawa Humane Society is hosting a microchipping clinic for cats and dogs. The cost for the first microchip is $50, and $25 for each additional pet.
Ottawa, ON - January 18, 2020 - The Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue and Pet Valu Trainyards are hosting a new monthly adoption event called Coffee with Cats. There will be coffee, freshly baked muffins, merchandise, and cats who will be available for adoption.
Pointe-Claire, Que. - January 18, 2020 - Animatch is hosting a nail clipping clinic at Global Pitou Minou Pointe Claire. A donation of $10 is suggested, and all proceeds will go back to Animatch.
Pets of the Month
