Excerpt of the new Animal Protection Act in Newfoundland and Labrador
Dog Care
4. A dog shall be provided with the following:
(a) clean, fresh, unfrozen drinking water, at all times;
(b) sufficient quantity and quality of food to allow for normal, healthy growth and the maintenance of normal, healthy bodyweight;
(c) clean food and water receptacles located in a manner that prevents spillage and contamination by excreta;
(d) adequate veterinary attention when necessary; and
(e) care that is necessary for the general welfare of the dog.
5. A dog that is kept outside in weather conditions that may pose a risk to the health of the dog or that is housed outside shall be provided with a shelter in accordance with these standards.
Design of a basic shelter or dog house
6. A shelter for a dog shall be weather-proof, water-proof and insulated.
7. A shelter for a dog shall be sufficiently ventilated in a manner that prevents the accumulation of moisture and odours.
8. The size and design of a shelter for a dog shall be adequate and appropriate for the size of the dog.
9. A shelter for a dog shall
(a) contain an entrance and a hallway that are separate from a sleeping area; and
(b) have a canvas or rubber flap attached at the entrance.
10. The minimum floor space of the sleeping area in a shelter for a dog shall com-prise 232 square centimetres for each 2.5 centimetres of the height of the dog in a standing position.
11. The minimum ceiling height of the sleeping area in a shelter for a dog shall be 5 centimetres greater than the height of the dog in a sitting position.
12. A shelter for a dog shall
(a) be sufficiently elevated off the ground to ensure that the floor is kept dry; and
(b) contain in the sleeping area bedding of sufficient depth to provide insulation from cold weather conditions.
13. Straw, woodchips, a blanket or other bedding in a shelter for a dog shall be changed every 7 to 14 days, or as otherwise required to keep the interior of the shelter clean and dry.
14. A mechanism outside of a shelter for a dog shall be provided to hold food and water receptacles in a manner that prevents spillage.
Basic requirements for a pen or enclosure
15. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall be in a good state of repair and made of materials that are not toxic to the dog.
16. The flooring of a pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined
(a) shall be made of a texture and design that prevents the dog from being injured; and
(b) shall not be made of wire mesh, metal or wood.
17. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall not be stacked with another pen or enclosure.
18. The location of a pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall not pose a high risk of injury or other distress to the confined dog.
19. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall not contain more than 3 dogs.
20. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall not contain a dog that may pose a danger to another dog in the same pen or enclosure.
21. A pregnant or nursing dog that is confined in a pen or enclosure shall not be confined with a dog other than its nursing offspring.
22. Notwithstanding section 19 of this Schedule, there is no maximum number of its nursing offspring that may be confined in a pen or enclosure with a nursing dog.
23. The size of the floor of a pen or enclosure in which one dog is confined shall not be less than 9 square metres.
24. The length and width of a floor of a pen or enclosure in which more than one dog is confined shall each be increased by one metre for each additional dog.
25. The minimum height of a pen or enclosure shall be one metre greater than the height of the tallest dog in a standing position that is confined in that pen or enclosure.
26. A pen or enclosure shall contain at least one shelter for a dog that is designed, built and maintained in accordance with these standards.
27. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall have an area that provides the dog with shade at all times.
28. A pen or enclosure in which a dog is confined shall be cleaned and have excreta removed from it on a daily basis.
29. A dog that is confined to a pen or enclosure shall be provided
(a) daily social interaction with people or animals or both;
(b) toys and other enrichments that are appropriate for the dog’s well-being; and
(c) daily access to exercise that is adequate and appropriate for that dog outside of the pen or enclosure.
Tethering
30. A dog that is tethered, unsupervised, outside shall be
(a) tethered in a location that does not pose a high risk of injury or other distress to the tethered dog; and
(b) tethered in an environment that is free of debris and does not cause harm or undue strain or stress on the tethered dog.
31. The area in which a dog is tethered, unsupervised, outside shall be cleaned and have excreta removed from it on a daily basis.
32. The restraining device used to tether a dog that is tethered, unsupervised, out-side
(a) shall be at least 5 times the length of the dog;
(b) shall allow the dog to move in a manner that is safe and unrestricted excepted by its length; and
(c) shall not weigh more than 10 per cent of the dog’s body weight.
33. A dog that is tethered, unsupervised, outside shall be provided
(a) daily social interaction with people or animals or both;
(b) toys and other enrichments that are appropriate for the dog’s well-being; and
(c) daily access to exercise that is adequate and appropriate for that dog and that is unfettered from a fixed area.
34. A dog that is young, aged or infirm shall not be tethered, unsupervised, outside for an extended period of time.
