The Alberta government is set to enhance animal welfare through increased fines and penalties. The proposed Animal Protection Amendment Act, also known as Bill 22, seeks to refine the definitions of distress and abandonment to empower peace officers to respond more effectively to animals in harmful situations. Key distress indicators include access to proper shelter and sanitation.
Under the amendments, the scope of locations and businesses subject to inspections will be broadened to include boarding and grooming facilities. If approved, the bill will impose stricter penalties on offenders, with maximum fines rising from $20,000 to $250,000 and the introduction of jail terms of up to 12 months for serious violations.
Additionally, the legislation aims to address offenders who have harmed animals in other provinces and relocated to Alberta without facing consequences. Leanna Niblock, the executive director of the Alberta SPCA, highlighted that Alberta would become the first province in Canada to enforce prohibition orders from other regions, enabling peace officers to take action against repeat offenders nationwide.
Niblock emphasized that the proposed increase in fines and jail sentences for offenders will enhance accountability, serve as a deterrent, and underscore the importance of animal welfare under the law. Recent instances of animal distress in the region include the charging of two women in November 2025 following an investigation into alleged animal cruelty in northwestern Alberta. Over 300 animals were surrendered from In The Woods animal rescue locations in Marie Reine and the Municipal District of Smoky River.
