Ontario's little-known team of taxpayer-funded animal cruelty investigators just released its first news release, years after it began in 2020.
The small but meaningful step toward increased transparency comes after continued pressure from the Canadian press — along with animal advocacy groups and opposition politicians — to open up publicly about Marineland's years-long investigation into animal welfare services.
Earlier this month, the organization, which is under the Solicitor General's Ministry, issued a brief statement about the “sorrow” of five dogs and the deaths of 24 more. It said it made 96 allegations against Hamilton women.
Chief Animal Welfare Inspector Melanie Milczynski shared little else about the case but said its importance, along with questions from locals about the organization's investigation, played a role in publicizing the allegations.
But Milczynski acknowledged that Animal Welfare Services has come under fire for being more open about its work.
“It's part of a broader communications strategy that we're trying to be a little more proactive in telling our story and sharing what we do,” Milczynski said in a recent interview.
“One of the things we hear a lot about is interest in animal welfare services, increasing transparency in what we do.”
Last month, Animal Welfare Services spoke publicly for the first time about its investigation into Marineland, a tourist attraction in Niagara Falls, Ont.
Milczynski made herself available for an interview for the first time. None of the previous chief animal welfare inspectors had spoken to reporters, and until then, the government had repeatedly declined interview requests from the Canadian press.
17 belugas have died since 2019
Provincial inspectors have visited the park more than 200 times since 2020, Milczynski said in November.
Since the end of 2019, 17 belugas have died in Marineland, including five in the past year.
Milczynski said last month that the park's water had been leveled, but she believed previous water problems had nothing to do with the marine mammal deaths — despite the province declaring all marine mammals in the park endangered by 2021. For poor water.
Marineland already claims that it takes good care of its animals and that animal deaths are part of the life cycle. Last month, it did not respond to questions about the animal's death but responded to an inquiry from the Canadian Press alleging that its journalism was driven by its reporter's “personal animal rights beliefs and activism.”
In that first interview weeks ago, Milczynski said her organization would consider increasing its transparency.
Its predecessor, the Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, issued numerous press releases detailing the launch of the investigation, the care of the animals involved in its research and the announcements made when charges were laid.
The OSPCA relinquished its role as enforcer of animal cruelty laws in 2019, citing a court ruling that said the government erred in giving policing powers to private organizations without enforcing accountability and transparency standards.
An appeals court later overturned the lower court's decision, but by then OSPCA enforcement was out of the game.
Then-Community Safety Minister Sylvia Jones promised a more open and transparent organization would replace it.
But for nearly five years, the Animal Welfare Service – through a ministry spokesperson – did not actively release anything. If reporters learn the agency is investigating something, it will answer questions on a case-by-case basis.
For example, in early 2023, the organization quietly charged Marineland with treating three young black bears.
But it didn't admit anything publicly until the Canadian press reached out to the ministry for confirmation after receiving a tip about the allegations.
Marineland was finally found guilty under Ontario's animal cruelty laws earlier this year. Bears were observed living in cramped quarters for months, with little access to water and climbing structures. Park was ordered to pay $85,000 in fines and restitution.
It was only last September that the Animal Welfare Service released its first public annual report.
The document said that last year, its 24/7 call center received about 40,000 calls and its team conducted more than 22,000 inspections and investigations. Inspectors removed about 3,000 animals that were either in distress or were seized as evidence. The organization has issued about 3,500 orders and laid 296 charges.
In a recent interview, Milczynski committed to releasing more information to the public, especially when charges are laid or there are updates on high-profile cases such as the Marineland Probe.
“If there's a case that's generating a high level of interest or is related to public safety or other matters where it would be helpful to communicate more in a timely manner, then we can send a communication to let people know that. 'We are aware of the situation and we are addressing it. We're actively looking,' Milczynski said.
