Proposal
Shelter Standards for Service Providers Housing Animals in the Care of Animal Welfare Services
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Proposal
Bill or Act:
N/A
Summary of Proposal:
Ontario's Provincial Animal Welfare Services Act (PAWS Act or Act) aims to safeguard animal welfare, including setting 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.
AWS is led by the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector (CAWI). Section 31(6) of the PAWS Act provides the CAWI with the authority to keep an animal in their care if it is necessary to relieve the animal's distress, or there are reasonable grounds to believe the animal will experience distress if returned to its owner or custodian or be trained to fight another animal.
When the CAWI decides to keep an animal in care, AWS works with various stakeholders (e.g., animal shelters, non-profit sanctuaries, and private sector operators such as boarding kennels or farms) to secure temporary housing to assist in providing the requisite care required to relieve distress and promote positive welfare outcomes for these animals.
While AWS strives to ensure that sheltering facilities meet the ministry's animal care expectations, in the absence of a standardized approach to shelter animal care, and with the mandate to ensure animal welfare in Ontario, AWS has developed clear standards that outline and prescribe the expectations service providers housing AWS animals must meet.
The AWS Shelter Standards (Standards) establish common service requirements for sheltering service providers housing animals in the CAWI's care, and they reflect the most commonly accepted approaches to animal care and health practices and procedures and encompass all elements of facility, shelter, and animal care management and operations.
The Standards, which were specifically developed for sheltering service vendors, are not meant to be onerous or stifle growth; rather, they support sheltering facilities by clearly outlining AWS' expectations with respect to animal husbandry and care, with the goal of ensuring a standardized, consistent, and equitable approach in the provision of that care.
The Standards were developed by AWS technical experts, including veterinary professionals and animal welfare inspectors, with the requisite skill set and background expertise related to standards development, audit management, shelter operations and management, and animal health and welfare. Established guidelines, standards, and frameworks by internationally recognized associations/organizations, as well as other technical resources and published research were leveraged in the development of the Standards.
To capture the unique husbandry and care requirements for different species/taxa, there are three distinct Standards documents, broken into three broad categories of animals:
1. Companion Animal & Zoological Companion Animal;
2. Equine & Farm Animal; and,
3. Zoo Animal & Captive Wildlife.
Following consultation and approval, the Standards would come into force at a future date to be determined and communicated by the ministry. The Standards would apply to any contractual agreements signed by AWS shelter service vendors on or after the in-force date.
Note: Shelter facilities would only be expected to meet the Standards that apply to the specific species/taxa for which they have been contracted to provide services. For example, a boarding facility that provides temporary housing for horses in the custody of AWS would only be expected to comply with the Equine & Farm Animal Standards.
The ministry welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and select "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.
AWS is led by the Chief Animal Welfare Inspector (CAWI). Section 31(6) of the PAWS Act provides the CAWI with the authority to keep an animal in their care if it is necessary to relieve the animal's distress, or there are reasonable grounds to believe the animal will experience distress if returned to its owner or custodian or be trained to fight another animal.
When the CAWI decides to keep an animal in care, AWS works with various stakeholders (e.g., animal shelters, non-profit sanctuaries, and private sector operators such as boarding kennels or farms) to secure temporary housing to assist in providing the requisite care required to relieve distress and promote positive welfare outcomes for these animals.
While AWS strives to ensure that sheltering facilities meet the ministry's animal care expectations, in the absence of a standardized approach to shelter animal care, and with the mandate to ensure animal welfare in Ontario, AWS has developed clear standards that outline and prescribe the expectations service providers housing AWS animals must meet.
The AWS Shelter Standards (Standards) establish common service requirements for sheltering service providers housing animals in the CAWI's care, and they reflect the most commonly accepted approaches to animal care and health practices and procedures and encompass all elements of facility, shelter, and animal care management and operations.
The Standards, which were specifically developed for sheltering service vendors, are not meant to be onerous or stifle growth; rather, they support sheltering facilities by clearly outlining AWS' expectations with respect to animal husbandry and care, with the goal of ensuring a standardized, consistent, and equitable approach in the provision of that care.
The Standards were developed by AWS technical experts, including veterinary professionals and animal welfare inspectors, with the requisite skill set and background expertise related to standards development, audit management, shelter operations and management, and animal health and welfare. Established guidelines, standards, and frameworks by internationally recognized associations/organizations, as well as other technical resources and published research were leveraged in the development of the Standards.
To capture the unique husbandry and care requirements for different species/taxa, there are three distinct Standards documents, broken into three broad categories of animals:
1. Companion Animal & Zoological Companion Animal;
2. Equine & Farm Animal; and,
3. Zoo Animal & Captive Wildlife.
Following consultation and approval, the Standards would come into force at a future date to be determined and communicated by the ministry. The Standards would apply to any contractual agreements signed by AWS shelter service vendors on or after the in-force date.
Note: Shelter facilities would only be expected to meet the Standards that apply to the specific species/taxa for which they have been contracted to provide services. For example, a boarding facility that provides temporary housing for horses in the custody of AWS would only be expected to comply with the Equine & Farm Animal Standards.
The ministry welcomes your comments and feedback. Please complete the feedback template and select "Comment on this proposal via email" below to submit the document.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
If this proposal is approved, it is anticipated that there may be direct compliance costs for some sheltering service providers. To assist in assessing the impacts of this proposal, the ministry is seeking comments and feedback from impacted stakeholders pertaining to anticipated one-time and ongoing costs.
Further Information:
Animal Welfare Services Shelter Standards - Companion Animal and Zoological Companion Animal
Animal Welfare Services Shelter Standards - Equine and Farm Animal
Animal Welfare Services Shelter Standards - Zoo Animal and Captive Wildlife
Feedback template
Proposal Number:
25-SOLGEN002
Posting Date:
January 27, 2025
Comments Due Date:
March 13, 2025
Contact Address:
Ministry of the Solicitor General
Public Safety Division
Animal Welfare Services
25 Grosvenor St.
12th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 1Y6
Public Safety Division
Animal Welfare Services
25 Grosvenor St.
12th Floor
Toronto ON M7A 1Y6