Animals in Research and Testing

The Kitchener-Waterloo and North Waterloo Humane Society (KWHS), seeks to minimize the use of animals in research, or testing, and to eliminate all causes of pain and suffering to animals so used. The Society encourages the Federal and Provincial Governments, and the Research Community, to continue their efforts in developing alternatives to the use of animals in research.

The KWHS reluctantly agrees to the use of animals in research, only when there is no alternative and only when the animals are offered protections with minimum pain and stress relative to testing. Animals kept in research facilities must be offered suitable accommodation, be given fresh food, and clean water daily. Animals involved in research must be kept free of unnecessary suffering.

Cosmetic & Product Testing

The KWHS encourages the use, and development, of alternative testing methods other than the use of live animals for product testing.

Companion Animals

The KWHS encourages the companionship of domestic animals with the following conditions:

• Human supervision and presence is provided on a regular, and daily, basis.
• Adequate shelter, fresh food, and clean water are available.
• Every animal is given daily exercise, and is not continuously tethered.
• Every animal is given the appropriate immunization.
• Every animal has the appropriate licence and identification.
• Every animal is recommended to be spayed or neutered.

Polo, Rodeo, Racing, Circuses & Animals in Entertainment

The KWHS accepts the use of animals in sport and entertainment, providing there is no undue suffering or distress. These animals must be given adequate shelter, food, water, exercise, and be transferred in a manner appropriate to the species, allowing for adequate safety and a minimum of stress.

Pet Stores

The KWHS encourages the Provincial Government to regulate the operation, and licensing, of pet stores and to establish a code of practice and minimum standards for care and housing.

The KWHS recommends that any sale of animals, or birds, be subject to a twenty-four hour delay before delivery, in order to reduce impulse buying. The KWHS also recommends that all pet shops, or markets, be required to give a non-conditional forty-eight hour refund on all sales. The KWHS recommends that the source of all animals, and birds, sold in pet shops be made known to buyers.

Prizes & Gifts

The KWHS strongly recommends that animals not be given as prizes or gifts. Domestic pets should be acquired by deliberate choice from the Humane Society, or from respectable kennels.

Dissection of Animals In Schools

The KWHS recognizes the need for dissection of animals in schools that are training students in science, or science related professions and trades. It should be discontinued in all other schools. Video tapes and computer models should be used as much as possible.

Puppy Mills

The KWHS strongly condemns the existence of puppy mills: a breeding operation in which dogs are repeatedly bred for financial gain, and are kept in substandard conditions. The KWHS encourages the Provincial and Federal Governments to pass legislation banning the import of animals into Canada that do not have proper immunization and are not certified by a Government agency.

Breed Specific Bans

Provincial laws are the responsibility of the Government. While the Society does not necessarily support specific bans on breeds of animals, the Society is in full support of restrictions that focus on the protection of animal welfare and public safety, while minimizing incidents of animal aggression.

Trapping & Fur Farming, Seals & Sealing, Whale Hunting

The KWHS supports the use of animals in a wise and humane relationship, if the following conditions apply:

• The existence of the species should not be threatened.
• No unnecessary pain or cruelty should be inflicted.
• The destruction should serve an important use.
• The destruction should include a minimum of waste.

Drift Netting

The KWHS condemns the use of drift nets for any purpose, and encourages the Federal Government to press banning worldwide.

Exotic Pets

The KWHS supports the banning of exotic pets and urges the Provincial and Federal Governments to bring in legislation banning importation of such animals for the purpose of pet ownership.

Euthanasia

The KWHS supports the practice of euthanasia for animals to terminate severe, or incurable, suffering and also accepts euthanasia when an animal  is vicious, or is unlikely to be adopted due to age, temperament; or when shelters are overcrowded and there is no chance for early relief.

Euthanasia must be performed by trained personnel, using methods appropriate for the species and their condition.

Ferrets As Pets

The KWHS strongly discourages the keeping of ferrets as pets.

Field Trials

The KWHS is opposed to the use of live birds at dog trials and for training, as well as the use of live ducks at retriever trials.

Games

The KWHS strongly opposes the use of animals in games such as greasy pig catching, donkey racing, chicken catching or similar competitions.

Cock Fighting, Dog Fighting, & Bull Fighting

The KWHS condemns the use of animals in all blood sports, such as cock fighting, dog fighting, or blood-letting bull fighting.

Sterilization

The KWHS believes that the most effective way to decrease the proliferation of unwanted dogs and cats is for all owners of companion animals to have them spayed or neutered. The Society is committed to supporting a programme of educating animal owners to the superior benefits of spayed and neutered animals.

Zoos and Aquaria

The KWHS accepts the use of zoos and aquaria only where the needs and welfare of animals, birds, fish and reptiles take preference over the requirements of the viewing public. The species must be provided with the environment that fulfils its physical, psychological and social needs.

Farming

The KWHS accepts the raising or husbandry of agricultural food animals or fowl, where all possible means are taken to provide adequate care of animals. The KWHS strongly encourages the industry to continue efforts of research with the objective of securing more humane farming practices.

The KWHS recognizes, as a result of generations of breeding characteristics to animals in order to enhance their domestication and the improvement of animals' health, that some surgical procedures are necessary to keep animals and fowl from harming each other and self mutilation. Removing horns, castration, ear cropping, tail docking and debeaking of fowl are some of the necessary procedures. These procedures should only be carried out by trained individuals, using the most humane methods possible.

Wildlife

The KWHS recommends the banning of the sale of any wildlife species and their use as pets.

Compounds—Sporting Dog Training & Trailing

The KWHS Society accepts the purpose and use of sporting dog training and trailing compounds under the following conditions:

• That all such compounds in the province of Ontario be regulated by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
• That all such compounds comply with all regulations as set down by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
• That all such compounds be strictly controlled, licenced and inspected on a regular basis by the Ministry of Natural Resources, as well as an advisory committee to oversee the operations.
• That all compound owner/operators, or members who have a recognized permit to ensure compliance with the regulations,  supervise all controlled training exercises by the public.
• No guns or trapping be permitted within the compounds, except for the purpose of humane euthanasia of injured animals, and only then by the owner/operator of such a facility.
• That it will be the responsibility of the compound owner/operator to ensure that all animals contained within the enclosed compound, which are either sick or injured, be immediately treated or disposed of in an expeditious and humane manner.

Hunting

The KWHS recognizes that hunting in Canada is  legally accepted by all levels of Government. The Society recognizes that hunting serves a useful purpose; for the health, safety and interaction with other species, a certain amount of culling is a necessity. It is, however, incumbent on the hunter to be licenced, humane, expeditious, and as expert as possible. Where applicable, there should be no waste of animal parts. Any deviation from these principles should be punished by the strongest legal means possible.

Hunting Dogs

The KWHS is not against the use of dogs in aiding the hunter to be as expeditious as possible in the necessary culling of game. All regulations of the Ministry of Natural Resources must be adhered to. The Society is of the opinion that dogs serve a useful purpose in the retrieving and finding of wounded game, thus alleviating prolonged suffering.

Declawing of Cats

The KWHS supports the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's policy, which recognizes that declawing is a reasonable option for domestic cats that would otherwise be denied a home or place because of their damage to the home environment. In most cases, the declawing of the forefeet is recommended.

Animal Rescue

The KWHS does not permit the employees of the KWHS to attempt to rescue any animal confined in a tree, or a hydro pole carrying power, that would endanger the life or limb of said employees.