NEWMARKET, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Feb. 3, 2014) - In October 2013, the Ontario Government made a very special announcement that directly affects Animal Welfare across the Province of Ontario.
The Ontario SPCA is honoured to report that the Society and its Communities have received enhanced and expanded government support, now including operational funding, for their work in maintaining and enforcing Animal Welfare legislation, preventing animal cruelty and protecting animals. The commitment from the Government of Ontario is for $5.5 million annually, which is more than any other provincial government funding towards Animal Welfare, in Canada.
This funding and broadened scope of responsibilities speaks to the importance of Animal Welfare in the Province and the essential need for the animal protection services of the Ontario SPCA and its Communities.
The new funding is being used to ensure province-wide service for animals in need and will result in new services including a provincial call centre for reporting animal cruelty, a provincial zoo registry and regular inspections of zoos and aquariums and the development of a team of provincial inspectors for major case management. The funding will also support Ontario SPCA investigator training, the development of a strategy for Northern Ontario coverage, and the development of a First Nations outreach program.
Of crucial importance to the Ontario SPCA is the allocation of a portion of the new funding to each Ontario SPCA Community providing investigations services. This year, $3.2 million of the new government funding will be allocated to the Ontario SPCA and its Communities to sustain and enhance our collective efforts to protect animals, province wide.
"We ask the public to remember that, while the new funding is an important first step, it covers only a portion of the costs required to provide investigations services of animal cruelty," says, Chief Inspector Connie Mallory, Ontario SPCA. "We and our Communities still need the support of our donors, unfortunately now more than ever, as our services across the province continue to be in demand at our highest level in recent memory."
Please support your local SPCA and Humane Society by donating and volunteering. For the list of Ontario SPCA Communities, please visit www.ontariospca.ca. The Ontario SPCA and the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services are working together, to provide enhanced protection of animals and service to communities through reinforced, new and expanded programs across the Province.
Ontario SPCA and Humane Society:
Protecting animals since 1873, Ontario SPCA is Ontario's Animal Welfare organization. A registered charity comprised of over 50 Communities.
Since 1919, when Ontario's first Animal Welfare legislation was proclaimed, the Ontario SPCA, with the help of its Communities, has been entrusted to maintain and enforce Animal Welfare legislation. The Act provides Ontario SPCA Agents and Inspectors with police powers to do so.
Ontario SPCA provides leadership in animal welfare innovations including introducing high-volume spay/neuter services to Ontario and opening the Provincial Education and Animal Centre.
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Charitable Business Number 88969 1044 RR0002
Contact Information:
Alison Cross
Director, Marketing & Communications
Ontario SPCA, Provincial Office
905-853-2108
across@ospca.on.ca