A new provincial system is giving more teeth to animal cruelty laws in Ontario. 
The Provincial Animal Welfare Services, or PAWS, came into effect January first with input from police and animal advocacy organizations.
An expanded team of provincial inspectors will replace the work which had been done by the Ontario SPCA.
The PAWS Act creates new offences for dog fighting or harming a police dog or service animal, and enables courts to impose the highest financial penalties in Canada for offenders.
The province has also established a toll-free number, 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625) for people to report concerns about animal distress or abuse.
