A well-known rescue dog visited the Nova Scotia legislature on April 16 as a petition calling for tougher legislation around animal cruelty was presented to government.
Mojo, the rescue dog from Clare, Nova Scotia, is looking much healthier and cleaner than he did a couple of months ago.
“He only had hours to go. I don’t ever want to see that again,” says Mojo’s adopted owner Joey Wagner.
Mojo was three months old when he was rescued. He was malnourished, dehydrated, with mange that made him lose his fur and caused sores on his body.
Those involved in his recovery hope his story brings awareness to the people who can create change.
“We’d like to see things like an animal abuse registry,” says Rhonda Boudreau, who organized the petition, which has been signed by over 4,000 people.
Animals used to be just considered property years ago. They’re not anymore. They’re family members and it’s just time they be treated as such.”
Boudreau says she’d like to see changes to legislation that would crack down on those convicted of animal cruelty, and help companion animals.
“When you can also identify an animal that’s under distress, there’s actually some tighter regulations around taking other animals that are within that home as well,” says Progressive Conservative MLA Chris d’Entremont.
Nova Scotia Agriculture Minister John MacDonell says he believes some of the concerns being raised by the public will be addressed in the upcoming changes to the legislation, but he says the public will have to wait until Monday to hear the details.
“We have looked at legislation across the country,” he says.
MacDonell says increased penalties will be one significant component.
“I think there are a couple of additions that certainly would be added, identifying animals in distress, that hadn’t previously been in our legislation.”
~ Courtesy of CTV News
Tags: dog wants law change, dog works for cruelty laws, Mojo, Nova Scotia cruelty laws, rescue dog visits legislature
