THE FORESTER, Wednesday, December 3, 2008 A9

ALL LIT UP: Krystal Jeffrey, Lisa Duffi eld, Kathie Jeffrey and Lisa Embury (from left) cozy up by a fi replace with handmade Christmas cubes that light up beautifully in darker light. Every year, the Jeffreys open up their Huntsville home and host a Christmas craft sale, giving the community the chance to get some early Christmas shopping done. Photo by Laura MacLean

BY LAURA MACLEANHUNTSVILLE FORESTER

Animal abusers will now face jail time, heftier fines and a lifetime ban on animal ownership under new legislation recently passed by the McGuinty government.

On Nov. 17, it was announced that the Provincial Animal Welfare Act, also known as Bill 50, had been updated and is the first top-to-bottom modernization of Ontario’s animal protection laws since 1919.

“We are pleased with the pass-ing of Bill 50,” said Alison Cross, manager of marketing and public relations for the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA). “This legisla-tion has not been updated in 90 years. It makes Ontario a leader in animal welfare legislation in Canada, giving vulnerable animals in the province much-needed pro-tection.”

Cross stated that the OSPCA views the legislation as “strong” because it has mended many loop-holes in the OSPCA Act.

“As a registered charity with the mission to facilitate and provide province-wide leadership on mat-ters relating to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the promo-tion of animal welfare, this new legislation will allow us to be pro-active and provide more educa-tion to animal owners rather than simply reacting to animal cruelty reports,” she said.

Under the new legislation, key changes include creating new provincial offences that take into account causing or permitting dis-tress to an animal, allowing the OSPCA to inspect places where animals are kept for entertain-ment, exhibition, sale or hire and allowing the OSPCA to seize dead animal remains or take samples for an investigation. It establishes the authority to retain a seized animal where charges have been laid and where there are reason-able grounds to believe the animal may be harmed if returned to its owner; requires veterinarians to report suspected abuse and neglect, as well as protecting them from personal liability for doing so, and extends the act’s coverage to zoos; creates appropriate exemp-tions for wildlife, agriculture and veterinary practices, and respects areas already regulated by other legislation.

The legislation has created new provincial offences within the OSPCA Act which make it illegal to cause or permit distress to an animal, train or permit animals to fight other animals, own or possess equipment or structures used in animal fighting, fail to comply with standards of care for all animals, cause harm to a law enforcement animal, obstruct an OSPCA inspector or agent, make a knowingly false complaint to the OSPCA or fail to comply with an Animal Care Review Board deci-sion. Penalties for the new offences have also been created to include jail sentencing for up to two years, fines of up to $60,000 and a poten-tial lifetime ownership ban. The new legislation also stipulates that in the event of a conflict between the OSPCA Act and a municipal bylaw, whichever provision affords the greatest protection to animals will take precedence.

Local animal control bylaw offi-cer Barb Mooney stated the new regulations are “helpful and effec-tive” and will allow both OSPCA agents and herself “to have a window of opportunity to be able to resolve a situation going in the wrong direction more quickly.”“I had at least 10 to 15 calls this past summer regarding dogs left in vehicles with little air circulation,” she said. “It doesn’t take very long for the vehicles to heat up, even parked in the shade or on a cloudy day. Now, at least I will be able to legally open up a vehicle and free the distressed family pet.”

Animal cruelty laws get updated

Corner of Highway 60 & Muskoka Road 3 • Across from Canadian Tire 705-789-3889 • www.huntsvilleplacemall.com • e-mail: hpmall@cogeco.net

MALLCANADIAN

TIRE

Highway 60Mus

koka

Rd

3

Hig

hway

11

A & PANTHONY’S HAIR DESIGNARDENE BECKER SHOESBELL WORLDBENTLEYCD PLUS COLES BOOKSTORE

COTTON GINNYTHE CLOTHES CLOSETHALLMARK HAMPTON LANEHOMELIFE REAL ESTATEKINGS BUFFET CHINESE RESTAURANT NEAR NORTH GIFTS

NORTHERN REFLECTIONS PAINTED PORCHPOPP’S PEARLE VISIONRICKI’S/BOOTLEGGERRON HENRY JEWELLERS SAM’S EXPRESS DINERSAN DIEGO GIFTS

SCOTIABANK STITCHESTHE SOURCETIM HORTONSVIA BELLAZELLERS

WE HAVE IT ALLAT YOUR

Floating DockPipe Fusion$4,800 value

2 tickets to Ottawa/

Toronto Game - Scotiabank

$150 valueAutographed Books

including Russ Nicholls and Roy McGregor

Joyce Trimmer Silent AuctionDecember 4, 5 and 6

Bidding takes place at the Mall during regular Mall hours.

Please come and support Joyce and her family as she recovers in hospital.We would like to thank all the community-minded businesses and individuals

who donated, and made this auction possible…

Thank You!

Donor Donation Sam’s Diner ............................................... 10-speed Oster BlenderAnthony’s Hair Salon ........................................... Cut & ColourCD Plus .................................................. Sweatshirt & Pizza StonePopp’s ...........................................................................Eagle ClockCurves ..................................................(3x) 2-Month MembershipsSan Diego ..................................................................... Aero MistBell World ........................................................... Home Phone SetScotiabank ...................2 Tickets Ottawa/Toronto Game (Dec. 16)Hampton Lane ............................... Men’s XL Turtleneck SweaterArdene’s ......................................................... 2 Gift Packs of StuffZellers ..................................................................................Tea SetZellers ....................................................2 Framed Pictures of TreesHallmark .............................................................................2 CDsClothes Closet .....................1 Men’s & 1 Ladies’ Travel OrganizerRon Henry Jewellers .......................................... 1 Ladies’ WatchBecker Shoes .........................................................Gift Certifi catePearle Vision .....................................................4 Eyeglass ChainsSchnieder’s .................................................................. Deli PlatterKim Archer (A&P staff) ......................................... Cord of WoodFacial Expressions & The Reiki Touch ...................1/2 Body Aromatherapy MassageHair ’N There ........... (2x) Gift Certifi cate (Wash, Cut, Blow-Dry)Kerry Nelson (A&P staff) ................................Watkins Gift Pack

& Collectible Die Cast ToyHome Depot ...............................................Everstar 2-Jar BlenderSargeant Steam Clean ............. Gift Certifi cate (Carpet Cleaning)Leasa Ruff (A&P staff)........................ Tim Horton Coffee BrewerPipe Fusion ...........................................................................DockHuntsville Forester ........................................1/4 Page Colour AdRuss Nicholls .................. (5x) Portage Flyer Books (Autographed)I.D.A. Drugstore ........................................................ Gift BasketPool Spa & Sauna ...................................................... Pool ChairDr.’s Koncan .................................Braun Oral B Professional Care

Rechargable ToothbrushDeerhurst Resort..........................................Sunday Brunch for 4Butterworth Landscaping & Property Maintenance ..................2009 Spring Yard Cleaning

Donor Donation Brownlee Archery .......Cammo Pyjamas & (2x) Knife SharpenersD.Q. Grill & Chill ............................................ 1 Ice Cream CakeFamily Place Restaurant ............................(2x) Gift Certifi catesRobinson’s Independent .............................Produce Gift BasketTim Hortons ........................................................... Canisters, etc.Torbram Electric ...........................................................FlashlightUFCW (union) .......................................DVD Player & SweatshirtPainted Porch ............................................................ Gift BasketNear North Gifts .................................................(2x) Magic BallsCotton Ginny .................................................................BathrobeThe Source .................................................. Portable DVD PlayerPepsi ..................Navy Jacket & Fleece Vest & (2x) Hockey JerseysCoca Cola ............................................................ Electric Bar SignThe Millwork (Gravenhurst) ..................................... Gift BasketDavis Lussier (A&P staff) .........................................Framed PrintCanadian Tire ..........................Anchor 15-pc. Glass Bakeware SetMike & Tara Berardi ........................6-Cup Rice Cooker/SteamerChris Todd (A&P staff) .......................450 Watt 10-Speed BlenderThe Morgan House B&B ...................................... 1 Night StayBest Western Hotel .................................................. 1 Night StayRainbow Inn ............................................................. 1 Night StayGrandview Inn ...........................Sunday Brunch for 6 With SantaRoy McGregor ................................................Autographed BooksGeorgian College ...................................................... Box of StuffBentley ........................................................................Luggage SetJoan Sutton (Local Hairdresser) ......... Gift Basket (Hair Products)Pet Valu ............................................................................Cat TreeNear North Business Machines ....................................... ChairBDO Dunwoody ............................................................. ServicesCavalcade Color Lab ...........................................Picture of Joyce King’s Buffet ..........................................................Gift Certifi cateColes ....................................................... Cookbook & Other TitlesRicki/Bootlegger ............................... (Donation to be announced)L.C.B.O. ............................................. (Donation to be announced)Century 21 ......................................... (Donation to be announced)Big Print ............................................. (Donation to be announced)

The results of games played Nov. 25 at Trinity Hall, with eight full tables, follow.

North/south: first, Liz and Bob Barnes; second, Evelyn Green and Jim Brubaker; third, Ann Van den bos and Bea Groh.

East/west: first, Liz Graham and Rob Adamson; second, Jan Roberts and Mary Simonett; third, Kelly and Kel Andresen.

The Christmas dinner and bridge is Dec. 16 at Cedar Grove Lodge.

For information or a partner please call 789-9323. Have a great week.

Bridge results