The Ontario government is cracking down on puppy mills across the province.
The Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales, or PUPS Act was introduced at Queens Park on Monday and will amend current legislation to stop harmful dog breeding practices and make sure dogs across Ontario receive the care they deserve.
The term “puppy mill” is used to describe a dog breeder that engages in poor breeding practices such as the overbreeding of dogs in substandard conditions.
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner says the Act would make Ontario the first province in the country to introduce minimum penalties specific to puppy mills.
“Ontario currently has the strongest penalties for animal welfare violations in the country and we will not stop until dogs, and other animals across the province, have a comprehensive and robust system to ensure their safety,” Kerzner said in a news release.
That includes minimum penalties of $10,000 for operating a puppy mill and $25,000 if these violations result in the death of a dog. Changes would also allow the province to help develop regulations to set conditions that must be met when selling or transferring a dog and establish regulations for record-keeping.
The PUPs Act Would also prohibit breeding a female dog more than three times in a two-year period, or breeding more than two litters from a female dog’s consecutive heat cycles; breeding a female dog that is less than a year old; failing to keep a dog with a contagious disease away from other dogs or animals; and failing to ensure a dog’s environment is sanitary and free from accumulation of waste.
“This legislation is a welcome and important step towards protecting dogs from unethical breeders and addressing the issue of puppy mills throughout our province,” said Doug Brooks, President and CEO of the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society looks forward to continuing to work with the Solicitor General to further develop the detailed regulations that will provide the greatest protection possible for both dogs and the public.”