Cruelty Investigation
What is cruelty?
An inside look into Investigations at the Nova Scotia SPCA.The Nova Scotia SPCA is empowered under the provincial Animal Protection Act to investigate complaints of animal cruelty; help secure the arrest, conviction and punishment of all persons violating the Act; and, when necessary, seize animals from situations of cruelty or neglect.
The Nova Scotia SPCA encourages individuals to report all suspected cases of abuse or neglect. Without the assistance of the public, our mission to prevent cruelty to animals, help animals in need, and prosecute offenders would be nearly impossible.
To report cruelty:
Companion Animals (Nova Scotia SPCA): 1-888-703-7722 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Farm Animals (Department of Agriculture): 1-902-896-2299 or visit www.gov.ns.ca
All calls are triaged according to severity. We will respond to your complaint as quickly as we can, but we have limited resources around the province, and we must prioritize the reports we receive. If you feel the situation you reported is worsening, or becoming urgent, please call to let us know that things have changed. If you are dealing with a true emergency, and an animal is at risk or permanent injury or death, call your local police department or RCMP detachment.
All complaints are strictly confidential.
The Nova Scotia SPCA employs two full time Provincial Special Constables and a Chief Inspector to carry out its mandate of preventing and investigating animal cruelty. The Nova Scotia SPCA receives more than 18,000 calls regarding animal welfare each year and investigates an average of 1,500 complaints concerning companion animals in Nova Scotia. Click here to view the 2011 Statistics for Cruelty Investigations.
The most common complaints include:
- Backyard breeders and brokers (mill operations)
- Animals not provide with suitable or adequate food, water or shelter
- Animals suffering from neglect
- Animals not protected from injurious weather or conditions that may cause injury
- Animals suffering from injury or disease and not provided with veterinary care
- Animals confined, tethered or abandoned.
The most disturbing trend in Nova Scotia is hoarding. Hoarding is something that the Society struggles to deal with because of the lack of resources and infrastructure needed to address the complexity of these cases that involve both human and animal victims.
Animal cruelty is a CRIME. It can mean many different acts, from abandonment or neglect to abuse or killing. What happens to mistreated animals?
Nova Scotia SPCA Special Constables have the authority of peace officers when enforcing laws pertaining to animal welfare and cruelty prevention. Upon finding an animal in distress, the Nova Scotia SPCA must work with the owner or caregiver to relieve the distress. If the owner or caretaker does not act or cannot be found, Special Constables are permitted to take such action as they consider necessary to relieve the distress. This may include:
- Taking the animal into protective custody;
- Arranging for any necessary transportation, food, water, care, shelter and medical treatment; or
- Delivering the animal into the custody of the Society or another suitable caretaker.
Animal Cruelty
