Concerns reported to Animal Protection Officers are handled individually.

When investigating a complaint, an officer may visit the home or location of the complaint. When visiting the site, if an animal(s) appears neglected, suffering, or to be in chronic pain, an order may be issued under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to seek veterinary care, or the animal may be seized if it is deemed to be in need of urgent care. This care could include treatment or end of life care, including pain medication for comfort.

Every owner has the right to appeal an order or a seizure under the Animal Welfare Act. A provincially appointed appeal board decides if the Animal Protection Officers’ order or seizure is justified. If ruled justified, a seized animal becomes the property of the PEI Humane Society or the issued order must be complied with under the appeal board’s recommendation. This process can take a few days or several weeks depending on the nuance involved in the case.

If an order is ruled to be justified and the owner does not comply, their animal(s) could be seized. At this point, the owner also has the right to appeal the seizure under the Animal Welfare Act.

Prince Edward Island Animal Welfare Act
Prince Edward Island Dog Act