Regulation - LGIC
Proposed Regulations on the Sale and Transfer of Dogs, Recordkeeping Requirements and Exemptions to Specific Breeding Prohibitions under the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019.
Regulation Number(s):
To be determined
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019
Summary of Proposal:
The Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 (PAWS Act) is the primary animal welfare legislation in Ontario. The PAWS Act sets out protections against causing or permitting distress to an animal, basic standards of care that apply to all animals covered under the Act, and additional standards of care that apply to animals in specific circumstances.
Enforcement of the PAWS Act and its regulations is the responsibility of Animal Welfare Services (AWS), which is an enforcement body within the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
In June 2024, Ontario passed Bill 159: Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2024 (PUPS Act) which amended the PAWS Act by creating new prohibitions related to operating puppy mills in Ontario, including associated new offences and new minimum fines; and creating regulation-making authority to set out conditions for the sale or transfer of dogs, to govern record-keeping with respect to dogs and to provide for potential exemptions to puppy mill prohibitions already in the PAWS Act. The government is now seeking feedback and comments from the public on these regulations.
These regulations, if made, would:
• Set out conditions that must be met in relation to the sale or transfer of dogs in Ontario by breeders or third parties (e.g., sellers, brokers, organizations that transfer dogs);
• Set out types of and/or retention practices for records that must be kept for dogs, including identification records, breeding activity records, health records, as well and records related to sale and transfer of dogs.
• Create exemptions to some puppy mill prohibitions set out in the PAWS Act.
These regulatory amendments would help provide transparency and accountability to prospective owners/custodians when dogs are sold or transferred, by mandating types of records that should be kept by breeders and sellers and to be disclosed and provided to new owners. It would also help improve the health and welfare outcomes for dogs in Ontario by promoting the sale and transfer of dogs from responsible breeders while ensuring that appropriate health and identification records are maintained.
For more details, please see the proposal linked below and feedback template.
The ministry welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and click on "comment on this proposal via email".
Enforcement of the PAWS Act and its regulations is the responsibility of Animal Welfare Services (AWS), which is an enforcement body within the Ministry of the Solicitor General.
In June 2024, Ontario passed Bill 159: Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2024 (PUPS Act) which amended the PAWS Act by creating new prohibitions related to operating puppy mills in Ontario, including associated new offences and new minimum fines; and creating regulation-making authority to set out conditions for the sale or transfer of dogs, to govern record-keeping with respect to dogs and to provide for potential exemptions to puppy mill prohibitions already in the PAWS Act. The government is now seeking feedback and comments from the public on these regulations.
These regulations, if made, would:
• Set out conditions that must be met in relation to the sale or transfer of dogs in Ontario by breeders or third parties (e.g., sellers, brokers, organizations that transfer dogs);
• Set out types of and/or retention practices for records that must be kept for dogs, including identification records, breeding activity records, health records, as well and records related to sale and transfer of dogs.
• Create exemptions to some puppy mill prohibitions set out in the PAWS Act.
These regulatory amendments would help provide transparency and accountability to prospective owners/custodians when dogs are sold or transferred, by mandating types of records that should be kept by breeders and sellers and to be disclosed and provided to new owners. It would also help improve the health and welfare outcomes for dogs in Ontario by promoting the sale and transfer of dogs from responsible breeders while ensuring that appropriate health and identification records are maintained.
For more details, please see the proposal linked below and feedback template.
The ministry welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and click on "comment on this proposal via email".
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
To be determined based on stakeholder feedback.
Further Information:
Feedback Template for Proposed PAWS Act Regulations
Proposal Number:
24-SOLGEN026
Posting Date:
December 18, 2024
Comments Due Date:
February 1, 2025
Contact Address:
Ministry of the Solicitor General
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6