Animal Welfare
What is animal welfare?
Animal welfare means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is considered to be in a good state of welfare if it is healthy, comfortable, well-nourished, safe, able to express natural behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress.
What are the requirements for positive animal welfare?
The Animal Welfare Act identifies the following basic needs for animal welfare by requiring an owner to provide appropriate
- food,
- water,
- shelter,
- exercise and
- veterinary care.
These basic needs combined with the “Code of Practice” specific to the type of animal define the requirements for caring for that animal.
Codes of practice are nationally developed requirements and recommendations for the care and handling of animals. The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) develops codes for livestock while the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CV
MA) develops codes for cats and dogs. The requirements established by these codes are used to assess animal welfare on Prince Edward Island.
NFACC Codes of Practice
- Beef Cattle
- Bison
- Chickens, Turkeys and Breeders
- Dairy Cattle
- Equine
- Farmed Deer
- Farmed Fox
- Farmed Mink
- Farmed Salmonids
- Goats
- Pigs
- Pullets and Laying Hens
- Rabbits
- Sheep
- Transportation
- Veal Cattle
CVMA Codes of Practice
- Cats: Code Of Practice For Canadian Cattery Operations
- Dogs: Code Of Practice For Canadian Kennel Operations
What should I do before deciding to own an animal?
Review the appropriate “Code of Practice” to assess your situation. If in doubt as to whether you can provide the needed care required, speak to your veterinarian or call the Department of Agriculture.
How do I know if I am doing things right/following the rules?
The “Code of Practice” for the type of animal and the Animal Welfare Act outline the requirements to be followed for the proper care of animals.
COMPLAINTS / CONCERNS
How do I know if I should make a complaint?
If a situation involving an animal does not seem appropriate to you, report your concern and it will be investigated.
Who do I contact to make an animal welfare complaint?
To report a complaint about livestock:
- call 902-368-4880 or email reg@gov.pe.ca .
To report a complaint about companion animals (dogs, cats or other companion animals) or exotic pets:
- call (902) 892-1190 (ext. 21). If it is an after-hours emergency, call 902-892-1191.
- email - apo@peihumanesociety.com
- Fill out a form
Will my name be shared with the person I am filing the complaint against?
Your information is never shared with the person being investigated and is protected under the Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act.
Do I have to give my name if I make a welfare complaint?
Your name and contact information are helpful in case we need to contact you to verify the location of the complaint, but you are not required to provide it.
How will I know a complaint I lodged has been dealt with?
Every animal welfare complaint is investigated and non-compliance with the Animal Welfare Act is addressed.
Who enforces animal welfare in PEI?
Animal Protection Officers from the Department of Agriculture and the Prince Edward Island Humane Society are appointed by the Minister of Agriculture to enforce animal welfare in PEI.
What happens when I report an animal welfare concern?
What information do I need to provide when I call in an animal welfare concern/complaint?
You should provide the following:
- Reason for complaint
- Type and estimated number of animals
- Name of individual (if known)
- Civic or street address
- Community
- Contact information (optional)
If I request an update on the complaint, will I receive one?
We can advise you that we have completed our work relating to your complaint under the Animal Welfare Act and that we are satisfied with the outcome and the matter is now considered concluded.
OR
We can advise you that this matter has not yet concluded. We are not in a position to give you any other details as it could impact our work under the Animal Welfare Act.
How many Complaints were investigated?
| Type | 2022 | 2023 Jan-Mar | 2023 Apr-June | 2023 July-Sept | 2023 Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle | 19 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 15 |
| Horses | 30 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 12 |
| Livestock1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Pigs | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Goats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Sheep | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Poultry | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Petting/Hobby Farm | 5 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Other2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Companion Animals3 | 131 | 31 | 45 | 36 | 29 |
| Total New Complaints | 212 | 49 | 66 | 61 | 63 |
| YTD Total | 212 | 49 | 115 | 176 | 239 |
| Animal Category | 2022 | 2023 Jan-Mar | 2023 Apr-June | 2023 July-Sept | 2023 Oct-Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Orders: Companion Animals3 |
16 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
|
Orders: Commercial Animals |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
|
Seizure: Companion Animals3 |
14 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
|
Seizure: Commercial Animals |
2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total Actions | 37 | 3 | 2 | 9 | |
| YTD Total | 37 | 3 | 5 | 14 |
1 Livestock is typically used as a descriptor when multiple species are present.
2 Other may include exotics, farmed rabbits, camelids, or other uncommon livestock.
3 Enforcement is conducted by the PEI Humane Society
I want to have an animal on my property – do I need an inspection?
No, but you should read the “Code of Practice” for the care and handling of that type of animal. You are however, required to have a Premise ID if the animal is livestock or poultry.
Also, check to see if you are in a Municipality because they may have restrictions in place.
For more information, contact
PEI Department of Agriculture
5th Floor Jones Building
Charlottetown, PEI
Phone: 902-368-4880
Email : reg@gov.pe.ca