Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise to present a petition regarding animals.
Canadian families are dealing with trauma and heartache as they are forced to abandon their pets due to the high cost of basic veterinary care. Elderly Canadians suffer undue stress concerning health costs and care of their beloved pets, sometimes their only companions.
Thousands of domesticated animals, including pregnant cats and dogs, find themselves without shelter, food or warmth. They are completely unprepared for survival and are subjected to the cruelty of starvation, extreme weather, other animals and people. Animal shelters and welfare centres across Canada suffer a tremendous financial burden in the face of the high number of abandoned pets. This forces the centres to turn away many animals in need, all the while making them less able to focus on major issues, such as intervention.
Canada has historically taken strong action toward animal welfare. The citizens who have signed this petition would like to have a refundable tax credit implemented for neutering and spaying and other veterinary care in an amount based on an average of regional costs.