After years of advocating for more protection and improved welfare of exotic pets, the BC SPCA called for the province's first exotic animal legislation. A detailed submission in April 2007 was delivered to the BC Ministry of Environment Wildlife Act Review Process, the first revision of the Act in 25 years. The BC SPCA's recommendations included the prohibition of a broad list of foreign species commonly kept as pets, which suffer poor welfare in captivity and many also present public safety and environmental dangers.

Summary and full version of the BC SPCA submission

• BC SPCA - Wildlife Act Executive Summary (PDF, 72 KB)

• BC SPCA - Wildlife Act Submission (PDF, 182 KB)

• Appendix A - BC SPCA Position Statement_Exotic Animals (PDF, 46 KB)

• Appendix B - City of Vancouver Motion to UBCM (PDF, 22 KB)

• Appendix C - Framework for Assessment_Schuppli and Fraser (PDF, 1 MB)

• Appendix D - Government of Alberta Standards for Zoos in Alberta (PDF, 145 KB)

• Appendix E - Photos from BC SPCA Cruelty Investigation of Permitted Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility (PDF, 629 KB)

• Appendix F - BC SPCA and Government MoI for Oiled Wildlife Response (PDF, 187 KB)

• Appendix G - BC SPCA Letter of Withdrawal from MoI for Oiled Wildlife Response (PDF, 84 KB) 

To preserve & protect

In April 2008, the BC Ministry of Environment announced the introduction of Bill 29 Environmental (Species and Public Protection) Amendment Act, which for the first time, enables the Ministry to manage dangerous exotic species. The passing of this bill on May 28, 2008 coincided with the BC SPCA International Symposium on Exotic Animals – To Preserve & Protect.  

This event aimed to cooperatively address public safety, animal welfare and enforcement issues by bringing together individuals from federal, provincial and municipal government agencies, Conservation Officer Service, RCMP, Crown Counsel, B.C. Coroner Service, CAZA, sanctuary and zoo facilities, animal welfare organizations and veterinarians. The event was a successful platform for discussing how interagency cooperation would be achieved in future regulation of exotic animals.

New regulations

Ten months following the legal designation of previously unrecognized exotic animals now as "controlled alien species (CAS)," the Ministry of Environment unveiled regulations to monitor the keeping and breeding of certain exotic animals on March 17, 2009. View a general description of the new regulations.

The BC SPCA applauded this announcement which will provide better protection for specific exotic animals in captivity through a prohibition of all new CAS entering the province and the breeding of existing individuals. Greater safety measures will also be ensured through a grandfathering permit system for individual CAS that were in BC before March 16, 2009. Although the full list of BC SPCA exotic species was not adopted in its entirety, the newly regulated species cover the most dangerous exotic animals.

The new provincial regulations are a welcomed minimum standard across the province however, municipal exotic animal by-laws can restrict the keeping or sales of even more species of exotic animals. The BC SPCA will continue to support municipalities that create stronger exotic animal bylaws based on animal welfare and environmental concerns. See our Model Animal Control Bylaw Package for recommendations on exotic animals to communities.

Photo caption: Tigers in private B.C. backyard (top) and Sara Dubois and Craig Daniell of the BC SPCA announce new regulations with Barry Penner, Minister of the Environment and John Nightingale, President of the Vancouver Aquarium (bottom).