The CFHS will launch a special commemorative 5-stamp series promoting animal adoption alongside Canada Post and the Ottawa Humane Society on April 22nd. The CFHS brought together animal shelter leaders from across Canada to begin establishing national shelter standards based on the ASV Guidelines and Standards of Care in Animal Shelters. The CFHS sits on 7 negotiating tables working with industry to improve welfare standards for farm animals in codes of practice for beef cattle, equines, and pigs which will undergo public comment.

1. CFHS Member Update
January-March 2013

2. Utilizing the power and reach of Canada Post to raise the profile of adoption
In 2011 the CFHS pitched Canada Post on a stamp to celebrate and encourage adoption! We are excited to announce
that on April 22nd, alongside its founding member the Ottawa Humane Society and Canada Post, CFHS will launch a
special commemorative 5-stamp series promoting animal adoption. The images on the stamps were supplied by CFHS
member Toronto Humane Society. The event at the Ottawa Humane Society and will be attended by Members of
Parliament, Senators, public figures and the media. Canadian stamps are recognized internationally to be among the finest
in the world and the new “Choose Adoption” series has already generated lots of excitement.

3. CFHS responds to calls to standardize shelter practices
On February 14th and 15th the CFHS brought together animal shelter thought leaders and stakeholders from across the
country to convened a process for creating a set of shelter standards for Canada. The group established the scope and
framework for setting the standards and accepted the principles of the ASV Guidelines and Standards of Care in Animal
Shelters as a foundational document. A sub-committee of experts is currently reviewing the ASV document and will
provide recommendations to the newly formed “Standards Taskforce” on revisions, additions and approvals to make the
document Canadian.

4. CFHS is keeping the voice of humane societies and SPCAs at the table during challenging
negotiations to improve farm animal welfare
CFHS representatives sit at no less than 7 negotiating tables with industry to work out improved welfare for animals on
farm. The code of practice for beef cattle was released for public comment over the winter and the code committee is
now determining how to best include recommendations. The equine code has undergone public comment and revisions.
The pig code is scheduled for public comment in June and CFHS implores all its members to weigh in on the issues. The
poultry codes (layers and broilers) is in motion!

5. New strategies and tactics for addressing animal abuse
After a thorough assessment of the current political landscape the CFHS is considering the following initiatives:
* A “dog protection bill” which would address puppy mills, dog fighting and provide better protection for law
enforcement animals;
* Creating a national tribunal on animal law;
* Continued support for the tabled opposition party Private Members Bills to amend the Criminal Code of Canada;
* Developing materials that support prosecutors to utilize the criminal code with regards to animal cruelty.

6. CFHS weighs in on plight of captive wild animals in Ontario
At a February consultation with representatives from the Ontario Government the CFHS encouraged the government to
adopt a ban on the keeping of marine mammals in captivity and to create a licensing system for all zoos, menageries and
aquaria in the province.

7. Political network used to help elephants destined for California
In 2011, after much research, the Toronto zoo made the decision to retire their three elephants to the Performing Animal
Welfare Society in California. Logistically it was decided that it would be best to fly the elephants to ensure their
comfort. The CFHS has been working with St. Catharines MP Rick Dykstra to bring this issue to the direct attention of
Minister Peter MacKay to allow the use of an RCAF C-17 plane to transport the elephants. DND is expected to make a
decision shortly. Photo: Kaeko/Torontoist

8. Watching the watchdog – CFHS calls for more transparency for animals in research
The Canadian Council on Animal Care is undergoing a major strategic planning process due to significant funding cuts.
CFHS is participating at three levels: at the council level, in strategic planning meetings and advising the directors. The
CFHS is focussed on four areas of feedback – a re-commitment to animal welfare as the central tenet of the
organization, greater transparency of the system and in particular regarding the research being conducted on almost 4
million animals at publically funded facilities in Canada, strategic focus on the 3Rs (to foster the eventual goal of CFHS
of not needing animals in research), and to restructure the governance to include more stakeholder input into the CCAC.

9. Strengthening the movement
Toronto Humane Society, the second oldest Humane Society in Canada, joins the Federation!

10. Growing the CFHS expert team!
Dr. Toolika Rastogi has hit the ground running as the new Policy and Research Manager. Toolika comes to CFHS with
an extensive career as a senior policy analyst for the federal government at both Environment Canada and CFIA where
she was responsible for multi-stakeholder consultations, representing the government in UN negotiations and policy
development and research. She has a background in laboratory science, biodiversity conservation and sustainable
development and spent a year working with OECD in Paris. She is fluent in French. Her PhD is in Molecular and
Medical Genetics with a post doc in Conservation Genetics.

11. Updating Popular Tools
At the CVMA Animal Welfare Committee, we are in the beginning stages of revising the Kennel Code. And, to help
shelters and municipalities across the country, the CFHS, as a member of the National Companion Animal Coalition, is
working on updates to the “Enlightened Approach to Animal Control” including model by-laws. The revised document
is scheduled to be available at the end of the year.

12. Exciting events in the next few months:
Provincial cat stakeholder meetings kickoff on May 7th in New Brunswick
The Draft Pig Code of Practice is will be available for public comment in June
The Case for Spay/Neuter report will launch in Autumn 2013
Planning for the 2014 CFHS National Animal Welfare conference is well underway – Save the date April 5-8 2014!

13. Join the team!
The CFHS is looking for Board Members. This is your chance to shape the future of the animal welfare in Canada and the
Federation. If you’re interested contact Barbara Cartwright Barbara@cfhs.ca
Photo: CFHS board member advocating for Humane Societies and SPCAs on Parliament Hill.