New animal welfare agency in Saskatchewan

The Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency will replace Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan

Saskatchewanians with concerns about pets and animals will have a new point of contact beginning April 1.

The Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency (SAEA) will take on the responsibilities formerly held by Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS).

"Together, we are looking to the future of animal protection that continues to deliver effective and compassionate enforcement for Saskatchewan residents and their animals,” Agriculture Minister David Marit said in a Jan. 19 statement.

In November, APSS announced it wouldn’t renew its contract with the provincial government.

APSS has overseen animal welfare in Saskatchewan since 2015 and will officially cease operations on March 31 of this year.

This led to public consultations with SAEA emerging as the preferred organization to handle province-wide enforcement (except for Regina) of animal protection laws.

"The Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency looks forward to working with the Ministry of Agriculture as well as other external stakeholders in the province," Board Chair Russ Austin, who is also chief of the Warman Fire Department, said in the statement. "The SAEA was created with the focus of delivering education and enforcement services with integrity, professionalism and transparency in all that we do."