A message from our Executive Director
I was so pleased to be able to attend the Alberta Municipalities Convention recently in Red Deer. Community leaders from across the province were there to share knowledge and debate several resolutions they hoped the Association could shepherd for them.
While there, I also met with local leaders from Airdrie as they were proposing a resolution to bring changes to the Animal Protection Act (APA) to ensure it is robust, relevant and responsive to the animal welfare challenges we currently see in Alberta. This is something our organization has been working toward as well.
Unfortunately there were so many resolutions, Airdrie’s didn’t make it to the floor for debate.
That’s not because it’s seen as unimportant, Alberta communities just have so many challenges right now they need more help than ever before.
So, the resolution about updating the APA will now go to the Alberta Municipalities’ Board for further consideration, and hopefully will be identified as an issue important enough to warrant taking to the provincial government.
Whatever the outcome, focusing on improving legislation protecting animals from distress is going to be a priority for me and my team going forward. The APA hasn’t been updated since 2006, and so much has changed since then.
When I talk to counterparts across the country, I learn about how they’re updating and changing legislation in their regions, and it brings me hope that we won’t have to recreate the wheel when it comes to changes here.
We need to do more as a community to protect the animals in our care, be them companions or livestock. But all of this comes at great cost. We’re seeing unprecedented challenges in the animal welfare community across the board, from shelter to veterinary fees, and no lowering of the numbers of animals who need our care.
So, thank you for all you do to support us. You wouldn’t be receiving this newsletter if you weren’t part of our community.
I hope you enjoy reading the stories of what we’ve been up to the last few months, and please, if you can contribute, financially or through adoption, or fostering with one of our partners, please do.
Thanks again,
Leanne and Hope
