After a years-long clamour for reform, significant changes have come to the laws governing animal care around the territory.

In keeping with its commitment to modernizing regulations and legislation to meet Yukoners’ needs, the territorial government said today, it has finalized the Animal Protection and Control regulations under the 2022 Animal Protection and Control Act.

Prior animal protection and control legislation was badly outdated.

That resulted in low animal welfare standards and significant gaps and challenges around the enforceability of animal control laws around the territory.

This had led to high-profile, preventable deaths in several Yukon communities as well as ongoing concerns around public safety, control of feral animal populations, and standards for animal welfare.

The new act is designed to be a comprehensive, modern and enforceable legal framework for managing all aspects of animal protection and control in the territory and establishes higher standards of care than has existed up to now.

“The act reflects Yukoners’ values to support community safety and protect animal welfare,” the government said in a statement.

The act and regulations came into effect Friday.

The Pounds Act, Dog Act and Animal Protection Act and their regulations have been repealed.

The legislation and new regulations establish standards of care and control for different types of animals and circumstances.

The new control requirements address public safety concerns associated with aggressive or feral animals.

The legislation affirms the responsibility to care for and control domestic animals and livestock.

Changes to the Yukon’s animal protection and control laws include:

• Higher animal welfare standards,

• Increased ability and responsibility for compliance and enforcement of animal control,

• Empowering local governments to respond to animal control and welfare concerns,

• Adopting National Codes of Practice for care of livestock,

• Regulating the ownership of exotic pets,

• Establishing tools to address animal hoarding,

• Regulating animal-related organizations, and

• Tools to manage feral animals and high-risk animals.

The act and its regulations not only increase safety for Yukoners and animals, but bring the Yukon on par with other jurisdictions across the country.

Implementation will start through educational programs and partnership agreements with local governments to ensure that enforcement respects local values and priorities.

“We appreciate all the input provided by Yukoners to help inform this Act and regulations, including the advice from First Nations, municipalities, industry and stakeholders,” said Environment Minister Nils Clarke.

“We look forward to continuing to work with all impacted and interested parties as this Act and regulations are implemented.”

As a Yukoner, added Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker, “I am proud of these new, Yukon-grown Animal Protection and Control Act and regulations.

“Tailored for our unique context through input from Yukoners, these regulations will help ensure quality care of animals and livestock in the territory and support for our growing agriculture sector.”

The Animal Protection and Control Act received assent in the fall 2022 sitting of the legislature; however, it could not come into force until the regulations were issued. With the new regulations, the act is now in force.

The seven distinct regulations that have been issued include four orders-in-council:

• the Animal Protection and Control Act Regulation;

• Assignment of Administration of the Animal Protection and Control Act Regulation;

• the regulation to Amend Order-In-Council 2014/174 (Animal Protection and Control Act) under the Government Organization Act; and

• Consequential amendments to the Summary Convictions Regulation.

There are also three orders signed by the Minister of Environment:

• the Animal and Species Regulation;

• the Service of Order of Animal Protection and Control Officer Regulation; and

• the Permit Fee Regulation.

The government has been working toward modernizing this legislation for several years.

In 2018, the government engaged Yukoners through a public survey and conducted extensive stakeholder and community engagement to verify issues and values.

In 2023, the government engaged on regulation details.

Throughout 2023, territorial officials met with First Nations and local governments, partners, industry, and stakeholder groups about the regulations that will affect them.

Key stakeholder groups potentially affected by new regulations were invited to engage, and 29 groups provided a response.