BC SPCA applauds improvements in new Kennel Code

The BC SPCA is applauding progressive changes for the care and welfare of dogs outlined in the latest edition of A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations (PDF), released by The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).

The revised Kennel Code incorporates new scientific evidence to inform best practices in animal environment, food and water, animal well-being, husbandry and breeding practices, transport and end-of-life considerations.

“We are particularly pleased to see conditions for working dogs incorporated into the updated code,” says BC SPCA Manager of Policy and Outreach Amy Morris. “Specific considerations for working dogs were not included previously and are a significant addition to the 2018 code.”

Morris, who was a member of the working group that developed the revised document, says the BC SPCA is also pleased to see improved housing standards included and an increased focus on positive-reinforcement training and force-free handling.

The revised Kennel Code is part of a nation-wide effort to ensure that breeders, kennel operators and other professionals have clear animal welfare standards to follow and that members of the public have guidelines for choosing reputable providers. “Having these changes in place allows legitimate breeders, kennel operators and other professionals to set themselves apart from less scrupulous operators. The code also provides valuable information for those seeking to acquire a pet or animal service,” says Morris. “As an animal welfare organization, the BC SPCA is excited to see this ongoing commitment to humane animal care in our society.”