In the wake of last year’s sled dog killings, the province is requiring any sled dog company receiving Crown land tenure to have its dogs inspected annually.
The inspections will be carried out by a licensed veterinarian or a constable from the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
The new regulations were recommended by a provincial sled dog task force set up to probe the reported killing of 100 sled dogs in Whistler by an Outdoor Adventures employee in April 2010. (See “Task force tackles sled dog industry”– BIV Business Today, February 9.)
The new regulations, included in a change to the Land Act, require current operators to agree to an annual inspection of their sled dogs.
On April 5, Premier Christy Clark announced the province is acting on all 10 of task force report’s recommendations.
Jenny Wagler
@JennyWagler_BIV