Each year the SPCA investigates thousands of animal welfare complaints ranging from cases of physical abuse and torture to wilful neglect. Of these, a small number of extreme cases result in prosecutions, fines, and a temporary ban on animal ownership. We want need the ban to extend to a lifetime limit to ensure animals are protected from animal abusers—this will also act as a deterrent for people whose profit depends on the ill-treatment of animals (i.e. dog fighting, puppy mills).