Manitoba Just Passed a Puppy Mill Law — Now We Need to Make Sure It Works!

Good news: Manitoba has passed Bill 19, the Animal Care Amendment Act, a law aimed at cracking down on puppy mills and irresponsible breeding.

Under the new law, anyone selling or transferring large numbers of companion animals will need a breeder's licence. Penalties for animal cruelty and illegal breeding are also going up significantly — first-time offenders could face fines up to $20,000, repeat offenders up to $100,000, and both could mean jail time. The law also promises a public registry so people can verify a breeder is licensed before buying a pet.

Here's the catch: none of this takes effect until the government writes the actual regulations — the rules that will define the application process, fees, exemptions, what counts as a "pet animal," and how the public registry will actually work.

Manitoba has been here before. A breeder licensing law existed for years and was never enforced. We can't let Bill 19 suffer the same fate.

Please contact Manitoba Agriculture's office today and ask:

When will the regulations under Bill 19 be published?
Will the public registry of licence holders be accessible online, and when?
Will the public have a chance to weigh in before the regulations are finalized?

📞 Manitoba Agriculture: 1-844-769-6224 ✉️ Minister of Agriculture's office: minagr@manitoba.ca

Your voice now can help make sure this law is more than words on paper.

Forward this, post this, talk about it — every share counts!

Barbara

Read also: 

Breeder licensing: Response from Manitoba Agriculture

The economic impact of pet illness: A case for breeder regulation

Photo of the Grand Staircase in Manitoba's Legislative Assembly Chamber, 1963 via Flick