Regroupement Pour La Protection des animaux du Quebec (R-PAQ) Calls for Immediate Action Against For-Profit Pounds in Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - May 11, 2011) -

WHAT: Regroupement pour la Protection des Animaux du Québec (R-PAQ) will hold a press conference to call for an urgent transition away from for-profit pounds in light of the recent Mauvais Berger exposé on Radio Canada's Enquête that revealed horrifying treatment and euthanasia methods of their impounded animals.

Some key issues that will be addressed at the press conference include:

- the public launch of R-PAQ and its mission in Quebec;

- an urgent demand to Mayor Tremblay's office and Montreal municipal mayors to move away from for-profit pounds

WHO: Regroupement pour la Protection des Animaux du Québec (R-PAQ) is an umbrella organization comprised of leading animal welfare organizations, community groups, legal experts, veterinarians and other stakeholders who have united in order to address the current crisis situation as well as the fundamental problems regarding companion animals and "animal control" in the Province of Québec.

HOW: Email or call media contact below to obtain more information. Press conference is open to the public.

BACKGROUND: R-PAQ's mission is to transform animal control in Québec. It calls for a move from enforcement to prevention, from "animal control" to "animal services," in an effort to break the cycle of unwanted, surplus companion animals, to make more effective use of citizens' tax dollars, and to reform legislation at every level.

R-PAQ's objective is to partner with other like-minded organizations, and local/provincial governments to overhaul the costly, ineffective and reactive system that underlies the pound system in Quebec. We advocate the province-wide adoption of municipality-funded animal service programs which are based on humane ethics, as well as public health and safety, and community responsibility.

Members of R-PAQ include:

- Humane Society International Canada (HSI/Canada)

- Montreal SPCA (CSPCA)

- Companion Animal Adoption Centres of Québec (CAACQ)

- Animal Alliance of Canada (AAC)

- Association of Animal Health Technicians of Québec (ATSAQ)

- Citoyens Responsables de leurs Animaux de Compagnie (CRAC)

- Isabelle Poitras L.L.B

- Dr. Judith Weissmann D.M.V