The National Animal Welfare Advocacy Association in Québec (ANIMA-Québec) has established a certification system for cat farms and daycare facilities in an effort to preserve the animals and to rectify a gap in the legislation.
While owners of 15 or more of these animals are required to have a permit from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food (MAPAQ), in Quebec, there are no firm regulations regarding small breeders.
MAPAQ sponsored the ANIMA-Québec certification program. ANIMA executive director, veterinarian Chantal Allinger, explained:
” It’s a situation that is somewhat problematic because there are a lot of people who get into breeding thinking it’s very lucrative and easy when it’s absolutely not the case”
Mobivl reports that before giving its stamp of approval to a cat breeder, ANIMA conducts an inspection of the facility to ensure the animals’ physical and emotional well-being.
The size of the cage and the animal’s ability to interact with its cagemates are important factors taken into account.
“When the animal is very young, we want it to have enrichment, to be handled, to be socialized, to be put in all sorts of conditions so that it can”
Adopter follow-up is another important consideration for ANIMA-Quebec. Research by Dr. Allinger notes that many people go through frightening situations after adopting a pet in which they receive no supplement support from the breeder.
The new owners usually ask for help from anybody who would listen. Sadly, a trip to the vet can reveal that the cat has a fatal heart defect or chronic illness.
Because there is no adequate contractor follow-up of the breeder, people find themselves losing not only the money they have invested but also a member of their family to whom they have grown emotionally attached.
Small cat breeders will benefit from the certification
Dr. Allinger worries that small-scale animal breeders will be left unchecked since they are controlled exceedingly variably from municipality to municipality without clear rules governing it.
Québec’s ANIMA accreditation, which covers a wider range of specializations, is designed to fill this void and help breeders in the form of critical feedback and suggestions. She explained that the judges are veterinarians, animal health technicians, or other officials.
However, it is ultimately up to the person to decide whether or not to follow through.
Even while the MAPAQ registers more than 350 breeders of 15 or more cats or dogs inside Quebec’s jurisdiction, it is difficult to verify how many smaller breeders or boarding kennels are currently functioning or how they treat the animals in their care.
According to the MAPAQ website, 114 persons have been convicted in the last two years of animal-related offenses. Neither the animal type nor the perpetrator’s identity (a person or a corporation) is specified.