Purpose
of the
Legislative
Overview
Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (Ontario)
Act
Regulation
Purpose of the Act/
Regulation
Requirement to Report
Time Frame to Submit
Who Receives the
Report
How to Submit
Information Required
Penalties
Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019, S.O. 2019, c. 13
N/A
The Act sets out the standards for the care of animals, defines the powers of provincial animal welfare inspectors in
relation to the protection of animals and defines the provincial offences that may be applied to an individual found to
have caused or permitted distress in an animal(s).
Animal
Health Act
A veterinarian is required to report when there are reasonable grounds to believe that an animal has been or is being
abused, being subject to undue physical or psychological hardship, privation or neglect, including by participating in
fights with other animals, or is being trained to fight another animal. Veterinarians are required to report when such an
incident is suspected but also the belief itself.
Health
Protection
and
Promotion
Act
As soon as reasonably possible
A provincial animal welfare inspector
Reports should be made by calling 1-833-9-ANIMAL (264625).
Owner’s name, type and description of animal, description of the incident, address where the incident took place
Occupational
Health and
Safety Act
The Act does not define penalties for not reporting suspected abuse or neglect. Since the law requires veterinarians
to report cases of suspected abuse or neglect, veterinarians who fail to report such cases may be investigated for
potential professional misconduct.
The Act does include an immunity clause to protect a veterinarian, or anyone working on his/her behalf, who makes a
report in good faith, from any personal liability.
Provincial
Animal
Welfare
Services Act
Controlled
Drugs and
Substances
Act
Food and
Drugs Act
Health of
Animals Act
Legislative Overview • Mandatory Reporting
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