Historic Victory As Ontario Passes Landmark Ban On Dog And Cat Experiments
Incredible news for animals as Ontario has officially passed groundbreaking legislation banning invasive medical experiments on dogs and cats, making it the first province in Canada to prohibit the cruel practice.
The newly approved amendments to Ontario’s Animals for Research Act were included in Bill 75, which passed its final vote in the legislature. Animal advocates are calling the move a major victory for dogs and cats, who have long been subjected to painful and invasive testing in laboratories.
“Ontario has made history by becoming the first province in Canada to ban many cruel experiments on dogs and cats,” said Camille Labchuk, lawyer and executive director of Animal Justice.
“People across the province see dogs and cats as members of the family, and there is little public support left for subjecting them to painful and deadly tests, especially when modern, non-animal methods are increasingly available and can produce better scientific results.”
Premier Doug Ford first pledged to ban invasive research on dogs and cats after Animal Justice helped expose a secret dog lab operating at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario.
According to reports, whistleblowers working with Animal Justice and the Investigative Journalism Bureau revealed that dogs were subjected to invasive cardiac experiments before being killed and discarded, sparking widespread outrage and ultimately leading to the closure of the program.
“This law sends a clear message that dogs and cats do not belong in laboratories,” added Ms. Labchuk. “Animal Justice is now urging the province to move to ensure that dogs and cats confined in Ontario labs are rehabilitated and rehomed, so they can finally experience the safety and love they deserve.”
Although primate research is not currently banned under the legislation, the bill does allow protections to be expanded to other “prescribed animals,” including macaque monkeys like those subjected to cruel brain implant experiments at York University, as uncovered in a recent video exposé by Last Chance for Animals.
