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CFHS approves the ownership of companion animals only when there is adequate personal responsibility to ensure a satisfactory standard of physical and emotional care for the animal.
Position Statement:
The CFHS believes there are nothing but good reasons to sterilize dogs and cats and, therefore, strongly urges the spaying/neutering of all dogs and cats not part of a responsible breeding program.
The CFHS supports early (prepubertal) spay/neuter of cats and dogs.
The CFHS recommends that all pet licensing authorities establish substantially higher rates for licensing of unsterilized versus sterilized dogs and cats. The CFHS recommends that all those involved in the sale or adoption of dogs and cats incorporate a spay/neuter program as part of their sale or adoption procedures.
Background:
Spay (female) and neuter (male) of dogs and cats is one of the most important aspects of reducing pet overpopulation by preventing the birth of unwanted offspring. It also carries behavioural and health benefits for dogs and cats, including the reduction of sexual behaviours (marking, aggression, roaming, etc.) as well as a reduction in the risk of some diseases (cancers, prostatic diseases). Spaying or neutering pets is an essential component of responsible pet ownership.
Most dogs and cats can be safely spayed/neutered from 8 weeks of age. As with all veterinary procedures, owners should consult with their veterinarian to discuss the implications of the optimum age for spay/neuter for their pet.
Providing a licensing rate differential has been proven to increase the number of spayed/neutered dogs and cats, thereby reducing the number of unwanted and abandoned pets, as well as the costs for municipal enforcement and animal control.
CFHS endorses appropriate municipal animal control programs for companion animals.
CFHS supports the differentiated licensing of companion animals as part of its encouragement of spay/neuter programs.
CFHS in consideration for the safety of the animals, is opposed to companion animals being allowed to run at large.
CFHS further believes that cats kept as companion animals should be kept inside. If they are allowed outside they should be confined to a totally enclosed outdoor exercise area that has been prepared for their use, or be under the control of a responsible person.
CFHS opposes the mandatory surrender of animals from pounds for research, teasting or teaching purposes.
September 2005
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Please be advised that the CFHS euthanasia position is currently under review.
Position statement:
CFHS is opposed to surgical alterations of companion animals for cosmetic reasons, e.g. tail docking, ear cropping, etc. and supports the abolition of such practices.
Background:
Such procedures do not benefit the animal in any way and may be detrimental to the animal’s health and welfare. These cosmetic procedures expose the animal to the risk of anaesthetic and possible complications. CFHS encourages breed associations and the Canadian Kennel Club to change their breed standards so that cosmetic procedures are not required.
CFHS is opposed to the selective breeding of animals that produce changes in bodily form and/or function that are detrimental to their health or quality of life.
Position statement
CFHS is opposed to the trade or keeping of wild or exotic animals as pets.
Definitions
A wild or exotic animal is any animal, native or non-native to Canada, that has not been subject to domestication through many generations of selective and controlled breeding and thereby adapted to living in close association with humans.
Background/Rationale
November 1998
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CFHS condemns “puppy mills” which mass produce puppies with little or no regard for the well-being of the bitches and their offspring.
Position Statement:
The CFHS strongly advocates the adoption of animals from reputable shelters, rescue organizations or their satellite adoption centres. The CFHS also accepts the acquisition of animals from responsible breeders (see definition).
The CFHS condemns puppy mills (see definition) and opposes the sale of cats and dogs in markets or pet stores other than satellite adoption centres. The CFHS also disapproves of large-scale commercial breeders and ‘backyard breeders’.
The CFHS strongly cautions against using the internet as the source of a companion animal, without carrying out reference checks, extensive telephone interviews and other methods of ensuring the source is a responsible breeder or shelter.
Background:
The CFHS urges all shelters and breeders to fully screen potential adopters/buyers and carry out temperament assessments of the animals to ensure the placement of animals into appropriate and caring homes. The CFHS also strongly urges prospective companion animal owners to fully research the species and breed of choice (or mix of breeds) to ensure they are well informed about and prepared to meet the needs of their chosen companion animal. Prospective companion animal owners interested in purchasing from a breeder should also carefully screen breeders and their facilities to ensure they purchase only from responsible breeders (see definition).
The CFHS advocates that companion animal stores restrict their sale of live animals to domesticated and captive-bred birds, fish and small mammals other than cats and dogs. The CFHS believes that the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores (other than shelter adoption centres) promotes impulse buying and is an outlet for puppy and kitten mill animals. In addition, the environment in a retail store is not appropriate to properly meet the needs of young animals.
The internet can be a good source of information for prospective companion animal owners to research breeds, breeders, etc. However, it also provides a perfect forum for unscrupulous breeders or brokers to operate virtually anonymously with little fear of exposure. The responsible purchase or adoption of a companion animal involves a great deal of personal interaction between the seller or shelter and the animal’s potential owner. In addition, it is important for the potential owner to see the facilities where the animals are housed and to meet the animals. Without this interaction, it is difficult for prospective companion animal owners to determine the type of breeder or shelter with which they are dealing.
Definition of a Responsible Breeder
Responsible breeders are individuals who have focused their efforts on one or a select few breeds and, through breeding, historical research and ongoing study, mentoring relationships, club memberships, showing, raising and training of these breeds, have become knowledgeable about their health, heritable defects, temperament and behaviour. Responsible breeders are well suited to educate and screen potential buyers/adopters and provide follow-up support after purchase or adoption. Responsible breeders take lifetime responsibility for the animals they have bred.
How to recognize a responsible breeder:
Definition of a Puppy Mill
Definition as Agreed by the National Companion Animal Coalition April 24, 2002
The term Puppy Mill generally refers to a high-volume, sub-standard dog breeding operation, which sells purebred or mixed breed dogs, directly or indirectly, to unsuspecting buyers. Some of the characteristics common to puppy mills are:
Note: These conditions may also exist in small volume or single-breed establishments.
Definition of a Satellite Adoption Centre
A satellite adoption centre is a pet store or other location that does not sell cats and dogs, but instead has cats and dogs from a humane society, SPCA or rescue organization available for adoption. Interested adopters must be approved under the same adoption screening process that the society has in place for all animals adopted from the society.
Position Statement:
CFHS supports the proper identification of all companion animals with visible methods such as licenses or tags, as well as permanent identification such as microchips or humanely applied tattoos. CFHS supports microchipping as the preferred method of permanent identification.
Background:
Lack of proper identification prevents the majority of companion animals from being reunited with their owners. Identification of companion animals is a necessary requirement for the successful return of lost companion animals. The CFHS recommends that the implantation of microchips only be carried out by veterinarians or qualified persons knowledgeable regarding the procedure and this system of identification. The CFHS supports ISO technology for microchips as established by the National Companion Animal Coalition.
CFHS believes that the acquisition of an animal should be a deliberate and conscious decision to influence the future well-being of the animal. CFHS is therefore opposed to the awarding of any live animal as a prize or unsolicited present.
Position statement
CFHS is opposed to the declawing of cats, but reluctantly accepts declawing if it is the only alternative to having the cat euthanized. CFHS believes it is the responsibility of cat owners to become educated on the subject of declawing and its alternatives. The declawing of cats should be a last resort when behaviour modification has been ineffective and euthanasia or abandonment will result if the behaviour does not cease.
The CFHS strongly supports the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s position statement on Onychectomy (Declawing) of the Domestic Feline.
Background:
Position statement:
The CFHS recognizes that feral cats cannot be defined as ‘wildlife’ in that they are not a naturally occurring wild species. Rather, feral cats are descended from domestic animals that, due to human neglect, have been forced to live as wild animals. As such, their care is society’s responsibility.
Given the poor quality of life feral cats typically lead, as well as broader concerns such as the environmental impact and public health, the goal of feral cat management programs should be to gradually eliminate feral cat colonies by a process of ‘aging out’ their members. In this scenario, colonies would be maintained in a healthy state and prevented from reproducing, leading to the eventual attrition of members.
The CFHS supports a multi-faceted approach to dealing with feral cats, including: a ‘trap, spay/neuter, vaccinate and release program’, including, where appropriate, subsequent monitoring and,
the euthanasia of diseased animals whose health is deemed unrecoverable or whose illness poses immediate jeopardy to other cats (specifically, felines that test positive for infectious FELEUK and FIV and/or who exhibit definitive behaviour consistent with rabies).
The CFHS is convinced that to be effective, any feral cat management program must address the underlying cause(s) of feral cat colonies. This can be accomplished by an ongoing public awareness and education initiative that would emphasize, among other things, the consequences of allowing cats to roam freely. The goal of such an initiative would be to lower the incidence of stray/feral cats, thereby preventing new colonies and also the repopulation of existing groups.
Definition:
A feral cat is an unowned, free-roaming cat that has never lived with humans.
June 2003
Owners of any breed of dog must understand that any dog can bite, that no dog is completely trustworthy and that close supervision is essential when children are in the presence of a dog. Owners who choose breeds or mixes of breeds that have been historically used for guarding, fighting or chasing prey must understand and appropriately manage the potential risks associated with these dogs.
There are many contributing factors to most dog bite incidents, including poor breeding practices, inadequate socialization and training, health or behavioural issues, inadequate supervision and/or control of the dog.
The CFHS does not support laws banning individual breeds. Apart from the issues noted above, consistent and fair enforcement of such laws can be difficult due to the challenge of reliably identifying the breed or breed mix. Breed specific legislation cannot take into account the issue of developing or newly introduced breeds or breed mixes. In any event, determination of a dog’s breed or breed mix is not necessarily indicative or determinative of an individual dog’s temperament or propensity to aggression.
The CFHS supports legislation and programs that encourage informed, responsible dog ownership including spay/neuter, licensing, permanent identification, leash laws, socializing and humane obedience training. The CFHS believes dog owners should be held accountable for any harm or damage their pets do to people, property or other animals.
November 2004
