A grassroots group of concerned citizens seeking reform of laws & enforcement practices for more fair, humane, & effective animal control.

Our first and most important objective is to bring Brindi home, as well as all other dogs that Halifax is indefinitely detaining without legal authority - something it has been doing routinely for years!
Our next objective is to bring about thorough review and overhaul of A-300 and all animal control procedures and policies, as well as the formation of a special citizen's committee to act as an oversight body.

The law must be brought into compliance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as reflect current knowledge of dog behavior.

It is clear from the dire situation facing dog owners - and victims of dog bites - that dog-related issues do not belong in the courts. They are always backed up, causing unacceptable delays that, thanks to the linkage between owner guilt and the life of a dog in the current legislation, too often lead to death for dogs whose owners are unable or unwilling to defend themselves in order to defend their dogs.

Clear statutory limits must be placed on the amount of time a dog can be detained by the municipality. Currently, there are none whatsoever. This dire situation inevitably leads, and has led, to abuse of constitutional rights as well as neglect and/or abuse of animals and must be brought to an end.

In addition, HRM must establish a separate body to address cases where it wishes to put a dog down, so that it is independent of the courts, where HRM prosecutes dog owners accused of violating the by-law.This body must remain independent of the operation of animal services as well as the HRM Council, to keep it free from political influence. It should be made up of qualified individuals with knowledge of dog behavior and training, as well as representatives of the community, who are appointed with limited terms and who must meet a set of criteria. The body should meet monthly and set down reasonable limits, policies, and powers, with the approval of the community and the Council. Many models are available across Canada and the US that can be studied and adopted or adapted.

Human Halifax also calls for new policy requiring animal control candidates - who enjoy a greater degree of powers than the RCMP when it comes to seizures- to not only have formal training in dog behavior and handling, but also be able to demonstrate an adequate knowledge of dog behavior before they are hired. As with any law-enforcement employment, full background checks and lie-detector tests are a must before hiring. Currently they are lacking.
Continuing education from NACA or similar professional body, and performance reviews conducted by qualified supervisors, is also imperative if HRM animal control is to be fair, just, and effective.


Humane Halifax was founded when the urgent need for reform of animal control policy was brought to light by the case of Brindi, a non-aggressive dog held in the SPCA pound for nearly four years. The contrast between this and many other cases clearly illustrates how arbitrary, inconsistent, and ultimately ineffective HRM animal control practice is.

We believe the animal control system in Halifax is in dire need of reform. Improvements to By-Law A300 are long overdue: it lacks proper procedural standards, adequate oversight, and an appeals process with an independent panel of experts and owners. The definition of "dangerous" and other terms must be revised.

There is also a vacuum of policy addressing a host of related issues, and a total lack of accountability, which leads to excesses and abuses, and little if any assurance that the public is truly being protected from harm.

On twitter: @humanehalifax