Canadians are becoming increasingly concerned about the treatment of animals raised and slaughtered for food. More and more people are avoiding or reducing consumption of meat and other animal products, while those who choose to consume eggs, dairy, and meat…
Read More »
Things are looking up for pit bulls in Ontario! A new private member’s bill, introduced last November, aims to repeal the long-standing ban on pit bulls and pit bull-type dogs in the province because the ban is ineffective, arbitrarily targets…
Read More »
Back in October, we told you about a proposal for a roadside animal attraction in Kearney, Ontario, that would confine bears and cheetahs. Animal Justice submitted comments to Kearney Town Council, as did our friends at Zoocheck and World Animal…
Read More »
Please note that there have been new developments in our ongoing efforts to protect whales from suffering in captivity. Visit this page for more up-to-date information. In June, Animal Justice and other animal protection groups celebrated when Canada passed an…
Read More »
This year, Animal Justice is hosting a holiday party in Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa—and you’re invited! Join us for an incredible evening with delicious vegan food from local restaurants, cocktails, a silent auction with fabulous prizes, and the premiere of…
Read More »
Thanks to our incredible supporters, #Voiceless4AnimalJustice 2019 was a huge success for animals! From October 16 to November 9, over 70 participants fundraised to support the lawyers at Animal Justice and to ensure we can continue to help overhaul Canada’s…
Read More »
Cats have an innate need to scratch. Our kitty companions find great pleasure in scratching trees, furniture, carpets or other in-home belongings. There are many reasons behind the behaviour, including to stretch their bodies, shorten and condition their claws, and…
Read More »
Animal advocates across Canada should be rejoicing after the recent federal election. The reason? More animal-friendly Members of Parliament than ever before will soon take their seats. Twenty-five of 27 candidates endorsed by Humane Voters Canada—an election-time initiative by Animal…
Read More »
Journalist Jessica Scott-Reid finds new perspectives and hope at inaugural Canadian Animal Law Conference When considering the world of animal rights and protection, it may be images of animal activists screaming on the streets, of gruesome undercover footage from puppy…
Read More »
Animal Justice is urging the town of Kearney, Ontario to disallow a proposed new roadside animal attraction confining bears and cheetahs. Keeping wild animals in captivity is wrong—for spectators, it’s a moment of pleasure, but for the animals, it’s a…
Read More »
Wolves, coyotes and moose in Ontario urgently need your help! Ontario is planning to weaken hunting laws so that coyotes and wolves can be shot and killed more easily in Northern Ontario. Officials are trying to justify expanding this brutal…
Read More »
Our hearts are full! The Summer Compassion Challenge has come to an end and was a smashing success thanks to our compassionate supporters. Together, we raised $50,114—and with the first $15,000 in new monthly gifts being matched by a generous donor,…
Read More »
False animal welfare claims are rampant in Canada This week, Animal Justice submitted comments to the Government of Canada regarding its proposed changes to labelling requirements in the Food and Drug Regulations and the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Animal…
Read More »
Animal Justice has been granted intervener status in a case challenging the removal of anti-Canada Goose ads from Toronto transit shelters. The case could have broad implications for animals, and will decide whether animal advocates have the right to advertise…
Read More »
For the first time in Canadian history, a law journal is dedicating an entire issue to the growing field of animal law. The 2019 issue of the Canadian Journal of Comparative and Contemporary Law is entitled Beyond Humanity: New Frontiers…
Read More »
Thanks to the support of Animal Justice, prosecutors in Leduc, Alberta have withdrawn charges against two animal advocates. Karin Nelson and Tove Reece were charged with the offence of “stunting” after hanging a banner on a highway overpass near the Edmonton…
Read More »
The federal government announced a new subsidy this week to help promote the cruel foie gras industry in Quebec. According to a government news release, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-foods is giving $123,000 to Deschambault Animal Science Research Centre to…
Read More »
On Monday, June 10, Canada passed Bill S-203, groundbreaking legislation to outlaw whale and dolphin captivity. Once the bill comes into effect, it will be a criminal offence to capture wild whales and dolphins from the ocean, confine them in…
Read More »
Everything is about to change for animal protection in Ontario. In March 2019, the Ontario SPCA announced it will no longer enforce animal cruelty laws in the province and is putting this public responsibility back in the hands of the government,…
Read More »
The Canadian government is taking firm steps to protect captive whales from cruelty and ban the shark fin trade before the next election. Senator Peter Harder, government representative in the Senate, introduced amendments at the Senate Fisheries Committee this week…
Read More »
The House of Commons voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass Bill C-84, government legislation that would outlaw all forms of bestiality, and close loopholes related to animal fighting. Bill C-84 was introduced last year in response to the 2016 Supreme…
Read More »
Prosecutors in London, Ontario withdrew all charges today against animal rights advocate Jenny McQueen. McQueen was facing charges of break and enter and mischief after entering a pig breeding facility in Lucan, Ontario that impregnates mother pigs so their piglets…
Read More »
Government slaughter reports analyzed by Animal Justice show that the Canadian meat industry is slaughtering more animals for food than ever before. A record-breaking 819 million land animals were killed in Canadian slaughterhouses in 2018—up from 800 million in 2017, 771…
Read More »
The Ontario SPCA has announced that it will withdraw from enforcing animal protection laws in the province of Ontario as of March 31, when its current funding agreement with the province expires. While many animal lovers may be concerned by…
Read More »
Ad Standards has confirmed that a misleading transit ad campaign paid for by the Dairy Farmers of Canada has been taken down! The advertisement claimed “there are zero growth hormones in milk produced in Canada”, but this is false. IGF-1…
Read More »
The House of Commons Justice Committee approved changes proposed by Animal Justice to Bill C-84, an animal cruelty bill that would improve laws related to bestiality and animal fighting. Bill C-84 would make all sexual abuse of animals illegal. Currently,…
Read More »
The much-awaited changes to the Canada Food Guide have been released! The newest edition encourages Canadians to move away from excess dairy and meat consumption, and consume more plant-based foods. The last time the Canada Food Guide was updated was…
Read More »
Animal Justice is a national animal law advocacy organization, leading the legal fight for animals in Canada. Our lawyers work to pass strong new animal protection legislation at all levels of government, ensure laws already on the books are vigorously…
Read More »
After hearing arguments from Animal Justice lawyers, an Ontario court has ruled that animal law enforcement by the OSPCA—a private charity—is unconstitutional because the agency is not sufficiently accountable or transparent. Animal Justice intervened in the case of Bogaerts v Attorney…
Read More »
For years, animal advocates have been fighting to shut down the horrific fur industry. It’s been a long, hard battle, but major victories in 2018 for fur-bearing animals have proven that times are finally changing! Over four million animals are…
Read More »
The holiday season is upon us! For many, this time of year represents peace, love and joy. But for animals confined on Canadian farms, there’s nothing kind or joyful about this time of year. Tragically, holiday feasts often fuel the…
Read More »
Ontario has announced that it’s amending its provincial slaughter regulations. The province will eliminate the need for a veterinarian to conduct post-mortem inspections at a slaughterhouse of an animal killed on a farm. However, a pre-slaughter inspection still needs to…
Read More »
After nearly three years of delay and obstruction, a bill to ban keeping whales and dolphins in captivity has finally passed through the Canadian Senate. Senators voted to pass Bill S-203 late on Tuesday, and the legislation will now make…
Read More »
Prosecutors in Oshawa, Ontario have withdrawn a criminal break and enter charge against animal advocate Malcolm Klimowicz, who was charged earlier this year after filming severe neglect and cruelty on a mink farm. The charge had prompted massive rallies outside…
Read More »
After a courtroom showdown and years of advocacy by Animal Justice, the federal government finally introduced legislation today to close Canada’s bestiality loophole. The new law also strengthens animal fighting offences. Animal Justice welcomes this news, but believes it is…
Read More »
We can’t thank you enough—#Voiceless4AnimalJustice was a smashing success. Together, we raised $28,164.32 for animals, exceeding our $25,000 fundraising goal! For three weeks, participants from coast to coast educated their friends, families and the public about why Canada’s animal protection…
Read More »
Fall is the in the air, and autumn fashion accessories are hitting the streets! Many products are still made with leather, fur and other animal-derived materials, but happily, cruelty-free fashion has never been easier. More and more brands are now…
Read More »
The province of Nova Scotia passed strong new animal protection legislation this week, becoming the first province in the country to make cat declawing illegal. The new laws also put an end to tail docking, ear cropping, devocalizing dogs, and…
Read More »
Records obtained by Animal Justice under freedom of information show that between 2014 and 2017, the University of British Columbia (UBC) received almost $2 million from at least eight separate dairy industry sources. The majority of the funds came from…
Read More »
Animal Justice is urging the federal government to fund innovative industries that save the lives of animals by creating humane, animal-free products. Specifically, Animal Justice is asking the government to invest in developing alternatives to animal testing, and invest in…
Read More »
A whistleblower who exposed horrific suffering on multiple Ontario fur farms will face a criminal trial. Malcolm Klimowicz was charged with break and enter earlier this year for visiting a mink farm near Oshawa, Ontario and filming the disturbing conditions…
Read More »
A new website exposing the truth about the number of animals killed by the meat industry has just launched in Canada. Animal Clock, already available in the US and the UK, raises awareness about the vast number of animals raised and…
Read More »
Every year in Canada, thousands of draft horses are exported by air to Japan, where they will be slaughtered for meat. Draft horses are by nature large. When horses of this size are packed together in small crates, they are…
Read More »
Sault Ste. Marie just passed a progressive new animal care and control by-law that will mean greater protections for animals. Among other things, the by-law enhances animal care standards, bans circuses from using live animals in performances, and prohibits new…
Read More »
On June 8, 2018 Animal Justice celebrated its 10-year anniversary with a glamorous gala at The Burroughes in downtown Toronto. This inspirational evening included a blue carpet entrance and photo backdrop, an memorable program, fabulous vegan food, and a rooftop…
Read More »
Van Boekel Farms has a habit of getting itself in the news. In 1994, the family pig farming business and its owner—Eric Van Boekel—were convicted for spilling manure into waterways, damaging the water and surrounding environment. Then, in 2011, they…
Read More »
Veterinarians in British Columbia will no longer be permitted to declaw cats, after the province’s College of Veterinarians banned the practice. The College of Veterinarians is the self-regulatory body for the veterinary profession, and sets standards of practice that vets…
Read More »
Last fall, you may remember that Animal Justice filed a lawsuit to protect the mountain lion, northern bobwhite, and dozens of other threatened and endangered species in the province of Ontario. Represented by lawyers from Ecojustice, we were concerned that…
Read More »
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has issued a “What We Heard” report about its planned overhaul of Canadian food labelling regulations. What We Heard reports are issued after stakeholders are consulted on proposed policy changes; themes in stakeholder feedback…
Read More »
Between January 2015 and November 2017, more than 470,000 farmed animals burned alive on Canadian farms. These animals would have endured frightening and agonizing deaths, trapped in cages or stalls with no chance to escape the smoke and flames. Most…
Read More »
