On April 18, 2019, Kyle Springer was returned to custody to begin his one year sentence of incarceration for the abandonment and subsequent death of Diesel. While this sentence set an important precedent for convictions involving animal cruelty offences in Canada, it is not what this petition and many of us, were hoping for. The 3 year ban was grossly inadequate given the deliberate abandonment of Diesel and length of time that he suffered as the result of Kyle Springer leaving the province of New Brunswick, knowing his dog was confined in the home he left. Springer also showed his true colors in eluding the authorities for more than 3 years to avoid answering to this crime, and it is alleged, had abandoned another animal in the same manner, before Diesel. For these reasons, Kyle Springer should NEVER be allowed to have any animal, ever again.

While a lifetime ban was one of the missing ingredients in this sentence, that would have set in motion an expectation of compliance and some very definite penalties if violated, the reality is that a lifetime ban is no guarantee that an individual will not be around animals nor does it prevent someone from acquiring another animal. As with anything, individuals must be caught in the act of breaking the conditions of a ban or probation. For this reason, we must continue to be vigilant with these and other individuals in a community who have been convicted or have shown a proclivity towards aggressiveness or cruelty of animals. To report abuse, neglect or abandonment of an animal, as soon as it happens.

What else can we / should we be doing to continue pushing for greater protections and sentences for convicted offenders?

More work is needed to improve our laws for greater protections of animals as well as to push for increased sentences in future animal cruelty convictions. Changes were made in 2008 to our canadian animal cruelty legislation as the result of Bill S-213 which was passed through the Senate and made into law. The greatest change saw the increase of 5 years as the maximum penalty for animal cruelty for an indictable offence. Sentences could also be imposed as summary conviction offences which carry a maximum sentence of 18 months. In this case, Kyle Springer was sentenced summarily. Several, similar bills have been introduced since 2008 to continue improving the legislation for animals, but unfortunately none have been successful. We need to continue building on this latest 'step forward' in opening up a dialogue once again with government and our justice system to push for greater protections and ensure that maximum penalties see the light of day in our court system.

For those of you here in Canada, we have a federal election coming up in October of 2019. This will provide the perfect opportunity to start a dialogue with our federal government representatives about animal welfare. Federal election representatives will likely be starting their campaigns at some point soon. Some may have already started. They will be showing up at your door, calling you on the phone, sending you canvassing materials in the mail. Please take some time to give thought to preparing some questions around animal welfare so that we can start a dialogue that puts animals on the radar once again, and hopefully make this election a FIRST for animals as a priority for the next government.

Here are some sample questions :

1. What is your position / thoughts around animal welfare in this country? Do you believe that animals deserve to have the protection of the law from acts of cruelty, neglect and abandonment?

2. Are you familiar with our Animal Cruelty Legislation? Do you feel that our laws are adequate and effective in addressing crimes against animals? Why? Why not?

3. What are your thoughts with respect to the fact that Canada has a maximum penalty of 5 years for animal cruelty and yet there have no convictions imposed that reflect this maximum penalty?

4. If elected, what are you / your party prepared to do, to give animals a greater voice in this country? To strengthen the laws surrounding animal cruelty cases, to ensure that maximum penalties are being applied to serious cases of animal cruelty, abuse and neglect?

For Canadian Residents : Here is a link to find your Federal Minister of Parliament by region : http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/constituencies/FindMP

For National and International Supporters who are interested in continuing to be a voice for Animals : Here is a link to send a message to our Prime Minister of Canada : https://pm.gc.ca/eng/connect

We are all in this together. Let's continue working to make a difference for animals. Thank you.

Animal Advocacy
Ontario