Cruelty Investigations

What is cruelty? 

The Nova Scotia SPCA is empowered under the provincial Animal Cruelty Prevention Act to investigate complaints of animal cruelty; help secure the arrest, conviction and punishment of all persons violating the Act; and, when necessary, seize animals from situations of cruelty or neglect. Animal cruelty is defined under the Act as:

• Willfully causing an animal unnecessary pain, suffering or injury.
  
• Causing or permitting an animal in your care to be or to continue to be in distress, with distress meaning: in need of adequate care, food, water or shelter; or
  
• injured, sick, in pain, or suffering undue hardship, privation or neglect.

The Nova Scotia SPCA employs three paid Cruelty Investigators and several volunteer Special Constables to carry out its mandate of preventing and investigating animal cruelty. The Nova Scotia SPCA investigated 1,264 cruelty complaints in 2008, up from 955 in 2007.

Animal cruelty is a CRIME. It can mean many different acts, from abandonment or neglect to malicious torture or killing.

Possible Signs of Animal Abuse:
Physical SignsCollar so tight that it has caused a neck wound or has become embedded in the pet’s neck

• Open wounds, signs of multiple healed wounds or an ongoing injury or illness that isn’t being treated
  
• Unexplained wounds, patches of missing fur, lameness
  
• Untreated skin conditions that have caused loss of hair, scaly skin, bumps or rashes
  
• Extreme thinness or emaciation—bones may be visible
  
• Fur infested with fleas, ticks or other parasites
• Patches of bumpy, scaly skin rashes

• Signs of inadequate grooming, such as extreme matting of fur, overgrown nails and dirty coat
  
• Weakness, limping or the inability to stand or walk normally
  
• Heavy discharge from eyes or nose
  
• An owner striking or otherwise physically abusing an animal
  
• Visible signs of confusion or extreme drowsiness
  
• Being hit or beaten by a hand or object
  
• Sick or injured but not under a vet’s care

Environmental Signs

• Pets are tied up alone outside for long periods of time without adequate food or water, or with food or water that is unsanitary
  
• Pets living in unsanitary conditions
  
• Pets are kept outside in inclement weather without access to adequate shelter
  
• Pets are kept in an area littered with feces, garbage, broken glass or other objects that could harm them
  
• Animals are housed in kennels or cages (very often crowded in with other animals) that are too small to allow them to stand, turn around and make normal movements possibly with too many other animals
  
• Animal “hoarders” - people who collect too many animals to properly care for them

What happens to mistreated animals?

Nova Scotia SPCA Investigators and Special Constables have the authority of peace officers when enforcing laws pertaining to animal welfare and cruelty prevention. Upon finding an animal in distress, if the owner or caretaker does not act or cannot be found, Special Constables are permitted to take such action as they consider necessary to relieve the distress. 

This may include: 

• Taking the animal into protective custody;
• Arranging for any necessary transportation, food, water, care, shelter and medical treatment; or
• Delivering the animal into the custody of the Society or another suitable caretaker.

Individuals found guilty of animal cruelty may be charged and fined up to $5000 and/or receive a jail term of up to six months and/or may be prohibited from owning animals for life.