Founded 1957 Headquarters Ottawa, Ontario | Purpose A humane Canada Region served Canada | |
Type Animal welfare organization Methods Advocate, educate, network | ||
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) is the largest national animal welfare organization in Canada, representing humane societies, SPCAs, and animal rescue organizations. CFHS aims to speak with a strong national voice, promoting the welfare and humane treatment of animals, and working to end animal cruelty.
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History
Based in Ottawa, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1957. Some of its founders were Richard Taylor, president of the Ottawa Humane Society; Alne Cameron, former Veterinary Director General for Canada and president of the Ottawa Humane Society; Senator Frederic McGrand; and former lawyer Gord Gunn who had witnessed the suffering of horses in World War I.
Currently, the organization is led by Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Cartwright, who joined CFHS in July 2011. Recent prior CEOs include: Steve Carrol (2006-2011) and Robert Van Tongerloo (2000-2005).
Programs
The CFHS’s program work focuses on companion animals, livestock and legislation. The organization works to improve legislation to improve the prosecution of some animal abusers. The Federation works with the Canadian livestock sector to improve standards of care for animals on farm, as well as in transit and at slaughter. As a founding member of the National Companion Animal Coalition, the CFHS has been involved in setting the standard for microchip identification for pets, and has worked on such issues as dog bite prevention, puppy mills and municipal bylaws for dogs and cats. The CFHS is also a member of the Animal Welfare Committee of the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
National Animal Welfare Conference
The organization holds national animal welfare conferences. The 2014 conference included presentations by Jane Goodall, veterinarian Michelle Lem on a Community Veterinary Outreach Program in Ontario, and a discussion of trap-neuter-return to humanely reduce community cat populations. Animal testing was also discussed.
The 2015 conference is scheduled for May in Richmond, British Columbia.
Funding
The CFHS does not receive any government funding. It relies on donations from the public, corporate sponsorship and some membership fees to fund its programs.
Governance
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies is governed by a volunteer-based Board of Directors. Board members may be employed by member societies. The members of the Board meet four times each year (two face-to-face, two conference calls), while both the Executive and Finance Committees meet monthly. The CFHS website maintains a current list of directors.
Membership
in 2013, the organization's members included 45 animal welfare organizations, humane societies and SPCAs operating across Canada.