As of Jan. 31, 2019, the Edmonton Humane Society will no longer provide enforcement of the Animal Protection Act (APA).

“This decision was made in early December 2018 and was a very difficult one for our organization,” said Summer Bradko, EHS board chair.

EHS decided to evaluate the viability of its enforcement program and whether they could meet new requirements because of policy changes that are in the works for the provincial Peace Officer Act.

A spokesperson from EHS said changes include increased training requirements for Peace Officers and requiring officers to respond to calls in pairs.

“These are important changes for the safety of Peace Officers, but we just don’t have the resources to meet them,” the spokesperson said.

EHS has been voluntarily providing the enforcement services in Edmonton. Funding for the service came from donations and a grant from the city.

“EHS’ budget last year for Animal Protection was approximately $200,000, but this does not approach what would be required to properly serve the animal welfare needs of a city the size of Edmonton,” the EHS spokesperson said.

“As a non-profit organization funded by donors, we are not in a position to carry out police-like activities such as going into high-risk situations that require carrying weapons, executing search warrants, laying charges and testifying in court.”

By no longer providing APA enforcement, the society said it can return its focus to animal welfare and advocacy.

EHS will continue to care for abandoned, abused and neglected animals through its sheltering services.

The Calgary Humane Society said it was “surprised and saddened” by EHS’s decision.

“Humane Societies and SPCA’s are in a unique position to be able to provide these services to the community and help save animals from situations of neglect and cruelty,” the Calgary Humane Society said in a statement.

“I mean, to announce a week ahead of shutting a program down that you’re doing so without a feasible transition plan is kinda beyond me,” said Brad Nichols, CHS senior manager of animal cruelty investigations.

The Calgary Humane Society, like Edmonton’s, is responsible for enforcing the APA within its city limits.

Outside of Edmonton and Calgary, the responsibility falls to the Alberta SPCA.

“It does so under Memorandums of Understanding with the local police agencies in those communities. The Alberta SPCA has no such agreement to enforce animal protection legislation in Edmonton,” the Alberta SPCA said in a statement.

The organization is willing to take part in discussions about the future of enforcement in Edmonton.

“Our organization has enforced the APA in rural Alberta for over 50 years and has the expertise and experience to ensure animal welfare legislation is enforced effectively,” the statement read.

“However it must be noted, the Alberta SPCA is also not in a position to absorb the extra responsibility of the City of Edmonton without additional resources.”

According to the Alberta SPCA, the Edmonton Police Service would become the agency responsible for enforcing the APA as it does for other provincial statutes.

The city said it has reached out to the province for direction.

“We will bring a report to City Council on February 11 and seek Council’s direction on the next steps.”

The city will help Edmonton Police with any urgent animal-related calls until a decision is made.