Act
Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2023 to Amend the Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2023
Summary of Proposal:
Ontario's Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act, 2019 (PAWS Act) aims to safeguard animal welfare. It currently 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 certain circumstances (e.g., dogs kept outdoors).
Enforcement of the PAWS Act and its regulations is the responsibility of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) - an enforcement body within the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN).
Through the Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2023 (PUPS Act), Ontario is introducing statutory amendments to the PAWS Act that, if passed, would:
• Set out a new prohibition on operating a puppy mill in Ontario with associated offences and new minimum fines, if convicted.
• Enable Ontario to make regulations in the future setting out conditions for the sale or transfer of dogs and governing record-keeping with respect to dogs.
• Make a clarifying amendment to authorize the use of enhanced debt collection tools by AWS to collect on unpaid debts to the province.
If passed, these statutory amendments would help deter the operation of puppy mills and improve the health and welfare outcomes for dogs bred in Ontario.
For more details, please see the bill linked below and feedback template.
SOLGEN welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and click "Comment on this proposal via email" below to submit the document.
Enforcement of the PAWS Act and its regulations is the responsibility of Animal Welfare Services (AWS) - an enforcement body within the Ministry of the Solicitor General (SOLGEN).
Through the Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2023 (PUPS Act), Ontario is introducing statutory amendments to the PAWS Act that, if passed, would:
• Set out a new prohibition on operating a puppy mill in Ontario with associated offences and new minimum fines, if convicted.
• Enable Ontario to make regulations in the future setting out conditions for the sale or transfer of dogs and governing record-keeping with respect to dogs.
• Make a clarifying amendment to authorize the use of enhanced debt collection tools by AWS to collect on unpaid debts to the province.
If passed, these statutory amendments would help deter the operation of puppy mills and improve the health and welfare outcomes for dogs bred in Ontario.
For more details, please see the bill linked below and feedback template.
SOLGEN welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and click "Comment on this proposal via email" below to submit the document.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The proposed statutory amendments, if passed, would not generate any new direct compliance costs or cost savings for the sector or impose any significant new requirements at this time. As the amendments do not impose any new compliance requirements, only prohibitions, and many details are left to regulations, there are no quantifiable direct compliance costs to the sector at this time.
Any impacts resulting from future regulations would be assessed at the time regulations are developed.
Any impacts resulting from future regulations would be assessed at the time regulations are developed.
Further Information:
Bill 159, Preventing Unethical Puppy Sales Act, 2023
Feedback Template
Proposal Number:
23-SOLGEN034
Posting Date:
December 4, 2023
Comments Due Date:
January 4, 2024
Contact Address:
Ministry of the Solicitor General
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6
25 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, ON M7A 1Y6