Companion Animals Working Group

Documents - Workshop September 2007

Issue Template - Companion Animals

COMPANION ANIMAL WORKING GROUP

For the purposes of this strategy, a “companion animal” is defined as all dogs and cats, whether kept for companionship or not, and as any other animal kept for companionship purposes.

DEFINITION – Animal Health

The state of a living organism, species, or population which can sustain biological functions to preserve its own integrity. Animal health has implications for welfare.

DEFINITION – Animal Welfare

“Animal welfare” is the measure of an animal’s ability or inability to cope with stressors, which may be physical (e.g. pain, injury), physiological (e.g. environmental or disease stressors) or psychological (i.e. affecting the senses, especially those that result in fear, fighting, distress or stereotypic behaviours, due to either frustration or boredom). Welfare has implications for animal health.

ISSUES related to companion animals

1. Zoonoses: Communications relative to an outbreak of a zoonosis, such as AI, can result in a fear reaction from the general public.
2. Disease transmissible from companion animals to humans: There is insufficient collaboration among affected sectors regarding the distribution and availability of information.
3. Emerging and re-emerging disease: Disease surveillance is generally limited to the most common diseases.
4. Civil and natural disasters: Emergency management plans for companion animals are not directly linked to rescue plans for humans.
5. Animal welfare and cosmetic surgery: There is a lack of agreement on what surgeries are necessary vs. unnecessary.   
6. Humane societies: The lack of uniformity of the role and interventions of different Canadian humane societies confuses the general public with respect to their expectations from these societies.
7. Not all pet owners have access to veterinary services, food and shelter.
8. The impact of the animal on human well-being: The positive impact that animals have on human well-being is not widely recognized.
9. Pet Food: Canada has a limited system that responds to emergency situations involving pet food.
10. Sentinel animals: Animals can play a valuable role as sentinels of environmental and public health.
11. Animal Breeding: There are no standards regarding the health-related consequences of companion animal breeding (prevalence of congenital diseases).
12. Release of companion animals into the environment: The owners of companion animals are unaware of their legal responsibility with respect to their animals (e.g. there is recognized social responsibility for pet owners on how their pets interact in their communities). 
13. Animal abuse(e.g. fighting dogs):  The current animal abuse legislation in the criminal code is considered inadequate and archaic.
14. Cloning and genetic engineering: There is a lack of clear guidelines based on the beliefs and values of Canadians.
15. Identification and international movement of companion animals: The information required for identifying and travelling with companion animals is difficult to obtain and not harmonized between countries.
16. Information reporting: In Canada, there is no existing network facilitating the sharing of important information, such as pet food recall, drugs and vaccination failure, etc.

PROPOSED NAHS OUTCOMES

1. Protect Canadians from animal-related health risks.
2. Strengthen domestic and international confidence in the integrity of Canada's animal health, environment protection and food safety systems.
3. Minimize the economic, social and environmental consequences of animal diseases.
4. Sustain the health of animal populations by maintaining their viability and genetic diversity.
5. Reduce animals’ exposure to disease.
6. Continue to improve the quality of life for animals.
7. Protect ecosystem health through prudent animal health and management practices.
8. Develop an integrated governance system to mitigate animal health risks.
9. Enable the movement of animals across the border.
10. Develop a system to protect companion animals (along with other animals) in the event of a natural/civil disaster.
11. Develop a surveillance system in Canada for companion animal issues, whether it be emerging diseases, disease outbreaks, social issues, animal welfare issues, etc.
12. Educate Canadians about the potential human health risks of animal ownership (i.e. biting, allergies).