Update 'archaic' animal protection laws, critics demand

08 Feb 12, Canwest News Service ... Canada's existing animal cruelty laws are "shameful, inadequate and archaic," a coalition of animal care workers charged Monday.

"Canada has laws that fall behind even nations like the Philippines because we have laws that haven't been updated since 1892," Liberal MP Mark Holland said.

Holland called a news conference to urge the government to adopt his private member's bill that would toughen penalties for people who abuse animals. Flanked by animal care professionals, he drew attention to MacKenzie, a black lab who was the victim of gross negligence before being saved by animal care workers.

"When she was taken in she was malnourished, her skin was infected and most of her hair had fallen out. Unfortunately there are too many cases like this in Canada," Holland said, adding that more than 120,000 people have signed a petition pushing for more effective legislation against animal cruelty.

He argued that while the government is talking about Bill C-2, which would get tough on crime against people, "we would say that it's also time for the government to get tough on crime against animals. That we know is that crime against animals often leads to violent crimes against human beings . . . and if they're serious about getting tough on crime, they have to get serious about this issue."

Diane Frank, with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, agreed. She noted that "in one particular study, when they looked at people who had been prosecuted in animal abuse cases, they found animal abusers were involved 38 per cent of the time in violent crimes to people."

"Violence is part of the big picture, and sometimes the first indication of problems within a family is going to be violence to the animal."