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BC's Sleddog Standard of Care Regulation came into practice on October 1st 2012 to supplement the voluntary sleddog code of best practice already developed in January 2012. It gave both owners and law enforcement officials clarity on specific legal requirements for sleddog farms - containment, health, working conditions and more - and was made enforceable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.
- Mandatory, legally enforceable standards under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
- Came into force on October 1st 2012, supplementing the January 2012 voluntary code
- Containment areas must include a dog house and be cleaned of fecal matter at least once each day
- Pen minimum space: 9.3 m2 for one dog, 13.0 m2 for two, plus extra space per additional dog
- Tethers must be at least 1.83 m long with a 360-degree swivel; no choke collars
- Dog houses must let a dog stand, turn around and lie down, and shelter it from the elements
Definitions and Regulated Activities
In this regulation a 'containment area' means a sled dog's pen, or the area within which a tethered sled dog may roam; a 'dog box' means a crate or other container intended for transporting a sleddog; a 'dog house' is a shelter meeting the requirements of section 7; and a 'pen' means a contained area from which a dog is unable to escape, including a yard, a run, and a cage, kennel or other structure. A 'sled dog' means a dog kept primarily or used routinely for a sled dog activity, and 'species-typical behaviours' include running, jumping and safe physical contact with other sled dogs. Sled dog activities are prescribed as regulated activities for the purposes of the Act.
Containment Areas
An operator must ensure that each containment area includes a dog house and provides sufficient room for each sled dog to move freely and to urinate and defecate away from areas commonly used for eating and sleeping. Each sled dog must have sufficient opportunities to engage in species-typical behaviours. An operator must clean containment areas of fecal matter at least once each day, and ensure that containment areas, and any structures or equipment within them, are maintained in a sanitary condition.
Construction and Maintenance of Pens and Tethers
An operator must ensure that pens and tethers meet all of the following requirements: sled dogs must be unable to escape from a pen or tether; materials must be durable; pens and tethers must be designed and constructed so as to prevent sled dogs from injuring themselves; pens must be free of standing water; and pens and tethers must be maintained in good repair.
Pen and Tether Requirements
Pens must be constructed to meet the minimum space requirements: 9.3 m2 if one sled dog is to be kept in the pen; 13.0 m2 if two sled dogs are to be kept; and 13.0 m2 plus sufficient space for each additional dog to engage in species-typical behaviours and maintain adequate social distances. Tethers must be safe for sled dogs, of a size and weight that will not cause discomfort, at least 1.83 m long, and have at the collar end at least one swivel that can turn 360 degrees. A choke collar must not be used as part of a tethering method, and tethering methods must substantially conform to one of the methods illustrated in Schedule A while allowing safe physical contact between dogs with the lowest possible risk of tangling and no overlap of adjacent tethers.
Dog House and Food/Water Requirements
An operator must ensure that dog houses provide an enclosed area large enough to permit sled dogs to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably, and are constructed and maintained so as to provide shelter from rain, wind, snow, sun and other elements and protection from excessive heat and cold. The regulation also sets out requirements for food and water provision as part of the keeping and caring for sled dogs.
