Ontario is the only province that legislates the acquisition of pet dogs and cats for research. According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), between 2012 and 2016, 12,167 pet dogs and 13,711 pet cats were sent to research laboratories in Ontario.
The Ontario Animals For Research Act governs how pet dogs and cats are acquired by research facilities in Ontario, the only province in all of Canada where the practice is mandated.
Appendix D of OMAFRA’s document titled INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPORTING THE NUMBERS OF ANIMALS USED FOR RESEARCH IN 2017, provides a broad interpretation of how animals can be acquired under the Act. (click here for Appendix D)
Pound sourced animals refers to dogs and cats obtained from Ontario pounds pursuant to a municipal by-law and “used for research purposes”. The Ministry has expanded the pound definition to include humane societies that are contracted to run municipal pounds and rescue groups that take animals from pounds after the redemption period.
Another source of pet dogs and cats are those “donated by owner”. Some of these animals are brought in by their owners for test procedures at research facilities and remain in the care of their owners.
However, the Ministry has expanded “donated by owner” to include animals who are surrendered to humane societies or pet dogs and cats who are picked up by some unknown entity in communities without municipal by-laws governing stray dogs and cats. Interestingly, the number of pet dogs and cats sourced from this category has risen sharply from 326 in 2012 to 1,997 in 2013 and has remained high ever since – 1,279 in 2014, 2,322 in 2015 and 1,686 in 2016.
An additional source of pet dogs and cats is covered under the category “miscellaneous” which refers to the acquisition of dogs and cats from pet stores or breeders and requires permission of the Director under the Act.
Finally, Research Facility Source includes pet dogs and cats that were purchased by the research institution in one year and were retained by the facility in the next year or were obtained from another research facility in Ontario. It also includes dogs and cats born and used for research purposes in research facilities.
It is little wonder that Ontario residents who lose their beloved pets do not know how to begin to find them when they can be sold to a research facility anywhere in Ontario.