A while back, a provincial petition was being circulated to implement standards for shelters and pounds in Quebec.
This petition was urging that shelters and pounds provide basics like: veterinary care, taking measures to reunite lost animals with owners (FYI – 5 months after their damning expose, the Berger Blanc still has no lost/founds listed on their website) , mandatory sterilization of animals before adoption, euthanasia via sodium pentobarbital by trained professionals (as opposed to gas chambers, etc).
It was going to be presented in the House of Commons. Sadly, in a province of nearly 8 million people – only 4000 signatures were collected. It didn’t make it any further. It’s disheartening. It’s certainly frustrating. Especially because we truly feel that this doesn’t reflect the masses. But we have no choice but to spread the word and educate. Because we know people want better for animals in Quebec.
When you know better, you do better, right? And to those over 4000 people who signed? Thank you.
Kudos to the Montreal SPCA who are dusting off from that particular setback – and working hard on trying to push for changes in the Provincial legislation that would ensure that the standards listed in the petition are met. This is their position paper: Draft p-42 Commentary (FINAL).
Keep your eye out for ways you can help. And keep pushing for change. It’s the only way.