News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government will introduce regulatory changes to ban 24-hour tethering of dogs and increase penalties for other violations that compromise their health and safety. The new rules will come into effect on Dec. 1, following a 28-day public review.

“Our government recognizes the need to enhance animal protection, especially on the issues of tethering and improperly confined animals,” Environment and Local Government Minister Danny Soucy said. “This comes after several months of work with animal protection advocates and other stakeholders.”

Amendments to the General Regulation - Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act are being made to:

• restrict tethering of dogs from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.;
• enable action to be taken regarding improperly confined animals, prior to the animal’s health being impacted;
• update the standards of care for farm animals and standards for euthanizing animals currently referenced in the regulation; and
• incorporate references to new standards for farm animals that have been developed that are currently not present in the regulation.

Amendments to the Provincial Dog Regulation - Municipalities Act, which governs the provision of dog control in the unincorporated areas of the province, will:

• increase the penalty for failing to have a dog vaccinated against rabies (now $25-200, increased to $140-$640);
• increase the penalty for other offences contained in the regulation, such as permitting a dog to run at large (now $10-$50, increased to $140-$640);
• increase the amount of time a seized dog may be held from the current 48 hours to 72 hours;
• increase the daily impound fee from the current $5 per day to $15 per day, to more accurately reflect the cost to impound a dog; and
• enable the issuance of two and three-year licences (presently, licences are issued for a single year).

“The practice of 24-hour tethering needed to be addressed quickly, and we have done so with these changes,” Soucy said. “We are also working on longer-term issues that will require more consultation with stakeholders and the public. However, we believe these changes are appropriate, enforceable and should be seen as a good first step toward improving animal protection.”

A provincial Standards of Care document is currently being developed to address issues of proper dog care, housing, socialization, and other issues. Further changes will be brought forward for government consideration in early 2015.