Ottawa – January 18, 2022 – Today Paul Goulet, Founder and Owner of Little Ray’s Nature Center and director on the board of directors for Canada’s Accredited Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA), in a presentation to the Ontario Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, said, “my Ontario CAZA accredited colleagues also get this call from animal welfare services. My first ask of this committee is that it recommends to the Minister of Finance that the Office of the Solicitor General be allocated proper funding for this rescue and seizure work…”
Ontario’s CAZA accredited facilities get called by Ontario Animal Welfare Services regularly to rescue animals from situations where private owners are no longer able to properly care for animals and the health and welfare of the animals are at risk. This action has both short-term and long-term financial implications.
“During a time when Ontario accredited members are under significant financial stress, it’s even more important the government of Ontario allocate funds to the Office of the Solicitor General for 3rd party animal rescue efforts”, Jim Facette CAZA’s executive director & CEO said.
CAZA facilities are held to the highest standards of animal care, peer-reviewed every five years and must submit an annual attestation to our compliance. In his remarks, Mr. Goulet noted, “As such this means there are no shortcuts to the welfare of the animals we care for. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception.”
About CAZA
CAZA is the voice of zoos and aquariums in Canada. We are the leading organization in Canadian animal welfare standards development, our accreditation process includes expert standards set by leading researchers, biologists, and academia who ensure we reflect the latest in animal welfare research, organizational management, and public safety protocols. Through a science-based approach, CAZA’s accreditation bridges the ethical concerns with conservation and the public interest.
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Contact:
Jim Facette
Executive Director & CEO
Mobile: 613 850-2669
jfacette@caza.ca