Anima-Québec is partially financed by an association of "pet industry professionals", i.e. backyard breeders and puppy mills and pet stores called PIJAC Canada. If you look on Anima-Québec's website under "bienfaiteurs" (Sponsors) you will find PIJAC Canada. This is a MAJOR conflict of interest and destroys the credibility of Anima-Québec as the watchdog of crimes against companion animals. I discovered the following letter published by PIJAC Canada to its membership of "pet industry professionals" as it calls them. PIJAC objects to an initiative to ban the sale of pets in pet stores IN B.C. (i.e. pets who are bred and raised in puppy mills) because it will affect the bottom line of its members - of course it will! WE WILL NOT ACCEPT THAT THE INSTITUTION ENTRUSTED WITH THE TASK OF RESCUING ABUSED ANIMALS AND IMPOSING FINES (AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS REQUESTED TO INSPECT THE BERGER BLANC) - ANIMA-QUÉBEC - BE IN BED WITH THE VERY SAME PERPETRATORS OF THESE CRIMES!!!!!!!
See the PIJAC site and letter to their members below:
http://www.pijaccanada.com/fr/news/legislative/
______________________________________________________________________
To: PIJAC Canada Members
All British Columbia Pet Industry Businesses.
This matter requires your immediate attention.
From: PIJAC Canada and PIJAC Canada (British Columbia)
Date: February 11, 2010
Subject: Province-wide movement to ban the sale of live animals in pet shops
The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada has recently learned of a province-
wide initiative to ban the sale of pets in British Columbia pet stores. We are aware of the
city of Richmond’s recent decision to ban the sale of rabbits in Richmond pet stores and
the next step to be considered in March will be banning the sale of dogs. Excerpts from
recent Council meeting minutes clearly indicate that the groups behind such a
ban will not stop until they have achieved the following objectives: Ban the sale of
all live animals in Richmond pet stores and have such a ban carried province
wide. At this time PIJAC Canada is also involved in a similar debate occurring in the city
of Langley.
How does this affect your business and why should you get involved?
• Historically, once a municipality has adopted such a bylaw, other municipalities
follow suit. Your municipality could be next!
• British Columbia pet owners will be looking elsewhere to obtain their pets. This
demand will encourage the proliferation of less known, less accountable sources
(internet, classifieds). .
• Purely emotional decisions will impose unfair business practices on all British
Columbia pet retailers, resulting in a significant drop in business
• Manufacturers and Distributors: No pets to sell will significantly alter the
demand for your products and seriously affect your bottom line.
What is PIJAC Canada doing?
• PIJAC Canada is continuing its representation to the Richmond and Langley city
councils.
• PIJAC Canada is presently investigating all options available to us for a
successful challenge of these bans.
• PIJAC Canada intends to approach British Columbia municipalities to
offer them our help and assistance in the development of fair and
responsible animal control related bylaws.
What can you do?
• If you operate a business in the pet industry, make sure your customers are
aware of this situation and how this type of bylaw can affect their ability to have
future access to quality pets.
• Joins us in making as many of your elected officials, industry colleagues and
business partners aware of your opposition to such a bylaw and let them know
how severely such a decision would impact your business.
• Don’t rely on somebody else to act for you. Make sure you take action now
by:
1- Informing your customers of the situation and asking for their support.
Groups behind this move are fundamentally opposed the concept
of pet ownership.
2- Post a petition (see enclosed text) in your store and obtain as many
signatures as possible. Showing your customers (their constituents)
support your position will give you extra leverage when approaching
your city council.
3- Contact your elected officials immediately to let them know of your
views and strong opposition to such a bylaw. Don’t wait for this
situation to come to your city before getting involved. Make sure
they know you are a local business operator and tax payer.
4- Prepare a letter to your city council presenting the arguments (see
enclosed text) as to why they should vote against a proposed ban and
recommend alternatives that would address the real issue: ensuring
their constituents have access to healthy quality pets.
• All British Columbia pet industry businesses should take a closer look at the
different animal related organizations their company supports. Companies may
find that some of the actions carried out by the groups they are supporting, could
eventually shut down their operations! If so, do you really want to support them?
• If you haven’t already done so, please take the time join PIJAC Canada, the
voice of the Canadian pet industry. For more information please visit our
website at www.pijaccanada.com or contact us via email at
information@pijaccanada.com
Remember time is of the essence!
Attachments: Sample Petition
Arguments supporting the sale of pets in pet stores
Canada