By Tanya M. Ursual

From The Lanark Animal Welfare Society (LAWS) L.A.W.S., P.O. Box 156, Smiths Falls, ON, K7A 4T1:

Understanding the difference between: OSPCA, Humane Societies, Branches, Affiliates:

What is the S.P.C.A.?

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) was founded in England in 1824. It was created to prevent carriage horse abuse in the days prior to automobiles. Carriage horses were forced to work through cold winters and hot summers, with little food, water or rest. Carriage drivers would beat the horses if they refused to or were unable to pull the carriages. The SPCA helped to pass laws regulating the carriage horse business, eventually expanding to include dogs and other animals in its fight against cruelty.

In 1873, Toronto citizens concerned for both the welfare of animals and children founded the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (OSPCA). Years later, the Children's Aid Society was established dividing the welfare of children and animals into two separate authorities.

In 1919, Ontario SPCA's Inspectors and Agents were given authority by the government, through the Ontario SPCA Act, to investigate situations involving animal abuse. In 1955, new legislation granted Inspectors and Agents the power to enter property, to carry out investigations and to remove animals that were believed to be in distress and required immediate veterinary care.

Today, there are thousands of SPCA's all over the world. Each is a separate entity that decides its own policies and procedures.

What is the difference between the Ontario SPCA and Ontario Humane Society?

The OSPCA and the Ontario Humane Society are the same entity. Humane Society is a common term and is used by some of the Ontario SPCA Branches and affiliates.

What is the difference between an Ontario SPCA "Branch" and an "affiliate?”

Shelters: The Ontario SPCA is comprised of 25 directly operated Branches. OSPCA BRANCHES are directly administered and funded by the OSPCA Head Office in Newmarket.

LAWS is one of 31 OSPCA AFFILIATED animal shelters within the province. As an affiliate, we pay a fee to the OSPCA in order to gain animal cruelty investigative powers and become empowered by the Ontario SPCA Act. All affiliated OSPCA investigators are trained, licensed and overseen by the OSPCA Chief Inspector. The OSPCA oversees 205 Inspectors and Agents. LAWS is proud to have Animal Cruelty Inspector Larry Wilkinson as part of its team. Without him, LAWS would be unable to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and rescue the abused and neglected animals that most need our help. As an affiliate, LAWS is responsible for 100% of the expenses we incur as a shelter.

Together, OSPCA branches and affiliates provide care and shelter for tens of thousands of animals each year.

How are the OSPCA, its Branches and affiliated Humane Societies funded?

The Ontario SPCA and its Branches and affiliated Humane Societies are charitable organizations that rely on the generosity of its supporters, including individuals, associations and corporations. The Ontario SPCA is not a government organization.

As an Affiliate, how does LAWS work?

As an affiliate, LAWS operates independently from the OSPCA and we are administered entirely on our own. 100% of our revenue comes from public donations and our own fundraising initiatives. LAWS has its own Board of Directors responsible for soliciting donations, overseeing policy within the shelter and taking care to approve all expenses incurred by our shelter. To give you an idea of how monumental the task is, last year’s expenses at LAWS included Veterinary bills, our heat, hydro and taxes, staff wages, litter and cleaning supplies, insurance, repairs and maintenance of our building, spay/neuter surgeries (every animal adopted from LAWS will be spayed/neutered at our expense), vaccines and medications, telephone, disposal and the list goes on.

What does all this mean for the animals?

Once again, LAWS receives NO funding from the government. Of our own initiative, and in the interest of animal welfare, our small team of paid-staff, volunteers within our community and our volunteer Board of Directors, undertake the task each year of raising enough money to keep us going. Every expense is carefully scrutinized and must be approved by the board, before a cheque is issued. By now, some readers may be wondering how we can continue to hang on year after year. Yet, we do, for one simple reason. Without us, the homeless, abused and abandoned animals in this county would have no where else to go and no-one else to turn to. When an animal is certain that everyone else has forgotten them or given up on them they come to LAWS. All of us here, staff and volunteers, love and care for them and we continue to be here for them, seven days a week -hopefully for many years to come!!! We can't do it alone. You can help by providing loving adoptive homes to our animals and through your continued financial support.