Companion Animals

Policy Statement
The P.E.I. Humane Society approves the ownership of companion animals only where there is adequate personal responsibility to ensure a satisfactory standard of physical and emotional care for the animal.  

Related Issues 

1. Spay Neutering  
All animals adopted from the shelter are to be spayed or neutered by veterinarians. This is essential to aid in population control of unwanted litters.

2. Animal Control  
a). The P.E.I. Humane Society endorses municipal animal control programs for companion animals.

b). The P.E.I. Humane Society supports the differential licensing of companion animals as part of its encouragement of spay/neuter programs.

c). The P.E.I. Humane Society, in consideration for the safety of the animals, is opposed to companion animals being allowed to run at large. 

d). The P.E.I. Humane Society 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. 

3. Euthanasia 
The P.E.I. Humane Society reluctantly accepts that the humane destruction of fit animals may be necessary but only condones those methods and procedures that cause minimal stress to the animals. 

4. Mutilation   
The P.E.I. Humane Society is opposed to the mutilation of pets for cosmetic purposes or for reasons of convenience, e.g., tail docking, ear cropping.
  
5. Declawing of Cats  
The P.E.I. Humane Society is opposed to the declawing of cats, but reluctantly accepts declawing if it is the only alternative to having the cat killed. 

6. Breeding  
The P.E.I. Humane Society 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.

7. Wild or Exotic Animals as Pets  
The P.E.I. Humane Society is opposed to the trade or keeping of wild or exotic animals as pets.
  
Definition  
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/Rational
  
a). Domestic animal species have been selectively bred and managed for many generations based on preferred attributes such as temperament and behaviour. Non-domestic animal species are often unpredictable, potentially dangerous and, by reason of these factors as well as by reason of their own needs, are unsuitable to keep as pets.
  
b). Wild or exotic animals are often acquired without full knowledge of the specific physiological, psychological, social, environmental, behavioural and exercise needs of the species. Many of these needs cannot be met when these animals are kept as pets.

c). The trade or keeping of wild or exotic animals as pets causes suffering and death through capture, transport, abandonment and improper care. }
  
d) Escape, release or abandonment of wild or exotic animals may threaten animal and human health and the viability of native wildlife.
  
8. Puppy Mills 
The P.E.I. Humane Society condemns puppy mills and breeders who produce mass litters with no regard for the well-being of the animals and their offspring.
  
9. Pet Stores and Markets  
The P.E.I. Humane Society advocates that pet stores restrict their sale of live animals to domestically raised birds, fish and small mammals. The P.E.I. Humane Society disapproves of the sale of dogs and cats in order to discourage impulse buying and to reduce outlets for puppy mills.  
The P.E.I. Humane Society urges adoption of pets from humane societies by responsible individuals which helps to reduce the number euthanized.  
The P.E.I. Humane Society is opposed to the exhibition and sale of companion animals in street markets and/or farmer’s markets.

10.Pet Identification   
The P.E.I. Humane Society advocates proper identification of pets with methods such as tags, humanely applied tattoos, microchipping and licenses. All dogs and cats adopted from the shelter are properly identified.
  
11.Pound Seizure  
The P.E.I. Humane Society unequivocally opposes any attempts to require that Humane Societies relinquish animals under their protection for any form of experimentation or student training. The P.E.I. Humane Society retains absolute ownership of all animals within its care.
  
12.Animals as Prizes  
The P.E.I. Humane Society believes that the acquisition of an animal should be a deliberate and conscious decision to influence the future well-being of the animal. P.E.I. Humane Society is therefore opposed to the awarding of any live animal as a prize or unsolicited present.
      

Approved by the Board 23 February 2000