MONTREAL — A wide-ranging update to Quebec's pet welfare regulations took effect across the province on Saturday, banning four cosmetic surgeries and setting new standards for the care of several species of mammals.
MONTREAL — A wide-ranging update to Quebec's pet welfare regulations took effect across the province on Saturday, banning four cosmetic surgeries and setting new standards for the care of several species of mammals.
Quebec's veterinary order previously prohibited removing vocal cords, cropping ears, trimming tails and declawing cats, but the new regulations officially ban the procedures for aesthetic purposes.
For Aleksandra Jaksic, this move marks the culmination of years of advocacy work. The contract veterinary nurse created her 2022 petition, which garnered more than 21,600 signatures and prompted the state to announce it was considering new regulations.
“It feels great,” Jaksic said in a phone interview Saturday. “Given its scale and magnitude, it means we will save millions of animals from having to endure unnecessary suffering.”
Gaston Rieu, president of the Quebec Medical Association, said the regulation formalizes widespread rejection of the practice among professionals.
“This movement is not unique to Quebec,” he said in an interview. “Around the world, this type of surgery is prohibited and discouraged.”
Ontario is currently the only province in Canada where cat declawing is not prohibited.
Mr Rioux and his predecessor, Caroline Kirsdonk, said the four non-essential surgeries unfairly exposed animals to the risks associated with the surgeries, which could lead to behavioral problems.
For example, removing a dog's vocal cords to suppress barking “is not considered very humane because if a dog barks excessively, it probably has anxiety or boredom issues,” Kirsdonk said. explained.
“We only deal with the symptoms, not the cause of the problem,” she says.
And nearly one-third of cats who undergo declawing surgery, the equivalent of removing a fingertip in humans, exhibit behavioral problems or aggression, Giroux said.
Quebec regulations still allow veterinarians to recommend surgical procedures for therapeutic purposes, and there is an exception for ear clipping of feral cats in licensed trap, neuter and release programs.
Other provisions of the regulation include bans on euthanasia by inhalation, tethering animals without collars, mating of animals of incompatible size, and feeding meat to pet pigs.
Yaksic praised the new rules but said Quebec needs to do more to crack down on irresponsible animal keepers and streamline the reporting process to authorities. She also hopes Quebec's regulations will put pressure on Ontario to introduce new pet welfare measures as well.
As for her future, Yaksic said her experience as an animal rights advocate led her to apply to law school.
“It showed me how much room there was to improve things,” she said. “I hope we can actually add something and help more animals through the law.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2024.
Samira Ait Kashi Ali and Thomas McDonald, Canadian Press
