When Animal Justice was founded, the vision of a Canada where animals had meaningful legal protections felt like a distant, almost unreachable summit. Over the years, our organization has grown from a small group of determined volunteers into one of the country’s leading voices for animals. We have consistently punched above our weight—taking on powerful industries, arguing on behalf of animals at the Supreme Court of Canada, passing sweeping new federal laws, and defeating ag gag legislation.
Our 2026-2028 Strategic Plan outlines our priorities for the next three years, reflecting both the urgency of the challenges ahead and the unprecedented opportunities to build a more compassionate Canada where animals are respected and protected.
Our Focus Areas, Goals, & Objectives
To achieve lasting change and maximize our impact, our roadmap is guided by three overarching goals, supported by nine core objectives.
Legal & Policy Campaigns
To improve laws & corporate policies to protect animals, we will:
- Strengthen legal protections by championing stronger laws, mobilizing supporters and partnerships, and securing a strong national legal framework for farmed animals to end the industry’s self-policing.
- Give animals a voice in courtrooms through strategic litigation that defends and advances legal protections for animals, including fighting ag gag laws.
- Promote corporate change in the food system by exposing hidden abuse through investigations and holding companies accountable to commitments aimed at eliminating the worst farming practices.
Inform & Inspire
To build a powerful and effective animal advocacy movement, we will:
- Inspire strong public support for protecting animals by increasing public awareness, shifting public opinion through trusted media coverage, and strengthening Animal Justice’s role as Canada’s leading voice for animals.
- Empower animal advocates to be more active and effective through training initiatives like the Animal Justice Academy, while deepening supporter engagement and increasing mobilization to help more supporters become active.
- Grow the field of animal law by uniting advocates through our annual conference, increasing the visibility and legitimacy of animal law, and fostering the next generation of animal lawyers.
Organizational Strength
To create a resilient organization, we will:
- Expand and diversify resources to drive innovative programs and ensure sustainability by cultivating a passionate community of long-term supporters and building collaborative partnerships that amplify our impact.
- Build a vibrant, inclusive team culture where everyone is empowered to thrive by attracting and retaining a mission-driven team, fostering a culture of belonging, and supporting continuous learning and growth.
- Ensure responsible administration and compliance by managing assets and allocating resources prudently, protecting against financial and legal risk, and enabling data-driven decision-making.
The Animals We Work to Help
We fight for all animals in Canada, strategically focusing our legal and advocacy efforts across five key areas to address the most severe forms of suffering.
Farmed Animals
Factory farming remains the single largest cause of animal suffering in Canada. In 2024, 864 million land animals were killed for food, along with an estimated 10 billion aquatic animals. These animals have virtually no legal protections and endure conditions that would be illegal if inflicted on dogs or cats.
We will continue challenging these practices in court, conducting undercover investigations, pursuing strategic corporate campaigns, and advocating for federal oversight of animal farming.
Companion Animals
While many Canadians consider dogs and cats as part of their families, Canada’s pet industry is an almost entirely unregulated black hole, rife with exploitation. We are fighting to end the suffering in puppy mills, ban cruel cosmetic mutilations like cat declawing and dog ear cropping, and establish stronger legal protections for companion animals.
Animals in Laboratories
Nearly four million animals are used in Canadian research and testing every year, with a shocking lack of oversight and no federal law regulating animal experimentation.
We are pushing to ban the cruellest experiments, implement full public transparency, and transition Canada toward modern, non-animal scientific methods.
Animals in Entertainment
Animals do not exist to serve as props for human entertainment. We will continue fighting to get animals out of zoos, aquariums, rodeos, and other forms of coercive entertainment that condemn them to a lifetime of suffering.
Wild Animals
Iconic Canadian wildlife faces immense cruelty with little legal protection—from trophy hunting and penned dog hunting to lethal extermination programs and the fur trade.
We are fighting to outlaw fur farming, ban cruel hunting practices, and put an end to extermination programs.
Thank You
Real change takes persistence, courage, and people who are willing to imagine something better. With every win in court, every new law passed, and every person who is inspired to join us, we get a little closer to the top of the mountain. Thank you for your determination to keep climbing with us until animals finally receive the protection and respect they deserve.
