Fredericton, May 31, 2011 - Last year the government of New Brunswick introduced regulations surrounding the licensing of Pet Establishments in the province. Since its inception, the Pet Establishment Licensing has grown significantly and the number of applications received has steadily increased.  Since June 2010 the New Brunswick SPCA has been working diligently with partners, stake-holders and interest groups in establishing procedures and processes that ensure the mandate of the SPCA under the direction of government is being fulfilled and that inspections are carried out in a fair and equitable manner.

The goal of Pet Establishment Licensing according to Paul Melanson, Chief Animal Protection Officer for the NBSPCA, “is to ensure that there are standards for the care of animals and standards for those who are required to be inspected, whether it is a pet store, a breeder, a kennel or shelter.”  
The new regulations represent a fundamental shift in the way the NBSPCA goes about inspecting premises and issuing licenses.   The new regulations set a standard of care that will ensure the health and safety of animals, owners and customers of these establishments.  As Chief Melanson says “This brings a uniform standard across the province of New Brunswick.  Establishments must now meet both the CVMA Codes of Practice as well as Provincial regulations in order to pass inspection and be licensed for business in New Brunswick.”