What we know about the changes to Saskatchewan’s animal welfare enforcement

Saskatchewan is preparing for a new group to take over animal welfare enforcement in the province.

With the exception of the city of Regina, the new Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency will provide animal welfare enforcement services across the province beginning on April 1, after the existing provider’s contract expires. The new agency is a third-party organization formed in response to the tender process.

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“The Government of Saskatchewan is committed to the safety and welfare of all animals in the province,” the provincial government said in an emailed statement.

The province said the new agency was selected “following an open, competitive tender process” after it met “several key criteria.” The long-term operational plan of the agency meets with the province’s expectations for enforcing The Animal Protection Act, 2018 and its amendments, which were introduced in November last year.

Those amendments included creating animal welfare inspector positions, providing authority to obtain telewarrants to relieve animal distress and establishing a code of conduct for animal protection officers and animal wellness inspectors, among other changes which are expected to be passed during Saskatchewan’s spring legislative session.

The province’s statement referenced strong internal governance combined with civilian board oversight in the Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency’s proposal “to ensure accountability and enforcement,” with the group’s board of directors having experience in law enforcement, finance and business management.

The new agency will employ people with expertise in animal welfare, the province noted, and will have two elders available to provide advice on issues related to First Nations.

The government said it will work with the agency and the existing service provider, Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan, to complete the transition smoothly.

Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan is an independent, non-profit corporation that the Ministry of Agriculture has contracted since 2015 to deliver animal welfare enforcement services in Saskatchewan. The group currently oversees the entire province, with the exception of the Regina, where the Regina Humane Society is responsible for that task.

650 CKOM reached out to Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan for comment on the transition, but did not receive a response.

Animal groups share concerns

In an interview in January, Ashlyn Weninger, president of SOS Prairie Rescue, said many animal welfare groups in Saskatchewan are concerned after seeing provincial funding to animal protection services cut.

According to a release the Government of Saskatchewan issued on Oct. 31, 2025, the province invested more than $6.5 million in animal welfare enforcement over the past three years, which worked out to about $1.8 million annually. The new service will have an operating budget of $1.6 million.

Weninger said the budget for the entire province, including companion animals and agriculture, is not very large.

“I know they say they’re prioritizing it, but the fact is, they have cut the budget again and again,” Weninger said.

“It’s very unfair to expect these animal protection workers to be taking these case loads. (They) are very complex and take a lot of co-ordination.”

Weninger emphasized a need for prioritizing preventative actions, including accessible spaying and neutering programs, trap-neuter-return programs, accessible veterinary care and pet-friendly housing.

Five cats cuddle together after arriving at SCAT Street Cat Rescue in Saskatoon on Jan. 7, 2026 from Wynyard, Sask. (Libby Gray/650 CKOM)

“If we don’t start investing in those preventative programs, it’s going to get a lot worse and there’s going to be a lot more suffering,” Weninger predicted.

Despite concerns over the transition and uncertainty around a new enforcement group in the province, Weninger expressed appreciation for the consultation done by the province with experienced parties.

Weninger said animal groups and providers like her don’t yet have any information on the transition or the philosophies of the new group.

“I know so many animal welfare groups and front-liners are ever frustrated with the lack of communication and collaboration when it comes to animal protection services,” Weninger shared.

The contact information for animal welfare concerns will remain the same after the new transition, the provincial government noted, as the new organization will take over the existing phone number and Saskatoon office.

Province announces new enforcement agency chief

On Tues, April 1, Levan Thirukketheesawaranathan was announced the new chief of the Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency.

Speaking to media, Thirukketheesawaranathan said the enforcement agency has a mandate “to serve the people and the animals of Saskatchewan through professional, transparent, accountable, empathetic and enforcement of the Animal Protection Act.”

He said the organization’s clear responsibility is to enforce the law, protect animals from distress and uphold standards expected by people in Saskatchewan in doing that. He highlighted collaboration and empathy as driving forces behind the new organization.

Thirukketheesawaranathan said the new enforcement organization will work to do this alongside “other enforcement agencies, municipalities and veterinarians, First Nations leadership and animal welfare organizations, because true impact comes from coordination, consistency and shared responsibility in the communities we serve,” he said.

According to Thirukketheesawaranathan, the main difference between the new enforcement agency and its predecessor is a board of governance that will see stakeholders come together for oversight in animal enforcement. He promised the primary approach of the organization will begin with education and voluntary compliance “where it is safe and appropriate, because prevention is always better than intervention,” he said.

The agency presently consists of a total of 10 staff, though Thirukketheesawaranathan said the goal is to increase that number to 14, with an emphasis on recruiting young leaders. He would not comment on how many of the staff members were part of Saskatchewan’s previous animal enforcement agency, citing a desire to avoid getting into “politics” over the matter.

Thirukketheesawaranathan highlighted the importance of empathy in the work of this agency, speaking to understanding the reasons behind situations where animal enforcement may need to step in and take action.

To concerns about animal shelters and organizations in the province becoming better acquainted with the new enforcement group, Thirukketheesawaranathan said “all they have to do is talk to us,” adding that the agency will be visiting shelters and veterinarians to get a better understanding of various animal groups and the work being done in Saskatchewan in this area.

– with files from 980 CJME’s Abby Zieverink