The concept of a peer system for assisting in the area of animal care is not a new one. Agriculture and the rural community have long relied on the help and assistance of fellow neighbors and fellow producers. Traditionally, animal users; either pet owners or livestock producers, have relied on animal control or animal welfare organizations (operating under legislative authority) to deal with cases of animal neglect and cruelty. This approach has had two major drawbacks. First anti-cruelty laws generally require animal neglect or abuse to have already occurred and to be substantiated by tangible proof. Second, because animal welfare organizations rely on public donations to fund themselves, such cases are often used by these groups in their fund-raising and publicity activities which in turn can leave a bad impression in the minds of the general public about livestock producers (or other animal use sectors) in general. The result has been that people within a community are often reluctant to report cases of sub-standard care or outright neglect for fear of adverse publicity or even reprisals by neighbors or clients.

OFAC began seriously looking at a peer review animal care service in the Autumn of 1991. A stakeholders meeting involving representatives of all major livestock groups, transporters, veterinarian associations, auction markets, and government extension was held in early 1992 to discuss the concept and to hear advice from inspectors with our provincial SPCA, provincial police, and agriculture inspectors. General consensus was reached that such a service was feasible and a pilot project was agreed to in order to more fully assess the need. A six month pilot project was launched in June of 1992, extended in December of 1992 and based on the pilot’s success the service was made permanent in June of 1993.

The objective of this service is to provide advice and referral in order to assist animal owners or handlers who are having difficulties providing adequate animal care or who may be following sub-standard management or handling practices. While cases of obvious animal cruelty or abuse (criminal offenses) are turned over to the appropriate authority (in Ontario our provincial SPCA) the purpose of the helpline is to try to PREVENT such situations from arising in the first place.

The intention of the service is to augment existing animal cruelty laws and enforcement, not to replace them. As a voluntary service, Helpline advisors do not have any authority to force animal owners to accept or adhere to advice, such legal authority lies with the SPCA and the police.

To provide practical and expert advice and voluntary assistance from a knowledgeable peer.

To provide people who witness what they perceive to be animal neglect or sub-standard care a discrete and confidential means to have the situation investigated and resolved.

The service is designed as a two-way education vehicle: to educate animal producers/handlers on proper animal care and when required to educate complaintants on acceptable and appropriate animal husbandry and handling methods.

The service also serves to demonstrate to the public the agri-food community’s responsibility for and commitment to farm animal care.

Calls are received by OFAC which acts as a clearing house. A standard form is used to record all pertinent information and a case number assigned. OFAC strongly discourages anonymous calls but the callers’ identity is kept strictly confidential with OFAC. Cases are then turned over to the appropriate commodity or industry group for follow-up. For example a call concerning beef cattle is handled by a beef producer. In cases involving more than one species a team approach is utilized.

Report-backs are required for each case. OFAC in turn will relay this information to callers who indicate they wish to hear the outcome of the case.

Commodity/industry groups or individual peer advisors who receive calls directly are asked to keep a record of such cases and forward them to OFAC for information purposes only.

OFAC does not attempt to screen animal care related calls, these are all turned over to the appropriate body. Calls relating to noise, odor, environmental practices and to species not serviced by the Helpline (non-food animals, horses and sheep) may be referred by OFAC to the appropriate authority.

OFAC will accept calls from those within the agriculture and food community as well as general members of the public, local animal control or humane societies, as well as animal owners/handlers who request assistance.

The Helpline has been publicized within the agri-food community through brochures, announcements in industry publications and internal communication vehicles, word of mouth as well as through press releases and other low-key publicity efforts.

It is the judgement of OFAC and those involved with the service (both animal user groups as well as the SPCA) that the service has been successful in meeting its intended objectives. The service appears to be meeting a need that currently isn’t being filled by existing agencies such as government or humane societies. It has been generally effective in resolving problems and has provided an important avenue to communicate to farmers and non-farmers alike about animal care. In addition, the service is both low cost and cost effective to operate.

We believe that the high success rate is due primarily to the fact that it is a peer system and because the approach is one of helpful advice and cooperation rather than confrontation and enforcement.

It is also interesting to note that not one Helpline case, even those involving the SPCA, have received any media attention, thus sparing the agri-food community adverse publicity associated with improper animal care.

Additional benefits have been to develop a degree of trust, cooperation and improved understanding between the agri-food community and the moderates within the humane enforcement community which can and should serve the agri-food community well in dealing with the animal use controversies which undoubtedly lie ahead.

To-date, the Helpline concept has been adopted and instituted in the province of Alberta as the "Animal Care ALERT" and as an autonomous service in the isolated northern-most region of Ontario. Other jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada have expressed interest and information on this approach. Self administered programs such as the Helpline reflect that industry itself recognizes it has a responsibility to set, monitor and encourage acceptable standards for responsible animal care; that we have the opportunity to do so on our terms (rather than on terms imposed on us); and, that we cannot afford to ignore or defend inhumane treatment.