The government of Alberta is set to enhance its animal welfare enforcement through increased fines and penalties. The Animal Protection Amendment Act, known as Bill 22, aims to provide clearer definitions of distress and abandonment, enabling peace officers to take action more effectively. Indicators of distress now encompass factors such as access to proper shelter and sanitation. The amendments also extend the scope of inspections to include boarding and grooming facilities.
If approved, the bill will impose harsher penalties, including raising maximum fines from $20,000 to $250,000 and allowing for jail sentences of up to 12 months for serious violations. Additionally, the legislation will target individuals who have committed animal offenses in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences.
Leanna Niblock, executive director of the Alberta SPCA, highlighted that Alberta would become the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other jurisdictions. This move aims to empower peace officers to address repeat offenders regardless of where they have endangered animals in the country.
Niblock emphasized that the proposed increase in fines and introduction of jail time for offenders will enhance accountability, serve as a deterrent, and underscore the importance of animal welfare under the law. Recent incidents of animal distress include the prosecution of two women in November 2025 following an investigation into alleged animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta. Over 300 animals were rescued from In The Woods animal rescue locations in Marie Reine, Alta., and the Municipal District of Smoky River.
