Bill 40: The Animal Protection Amendment Act, 2025

This bill primarily affects animal shelters, humane societies, designated animal protection agencies, and veterinary practices operating in Saskatchewan. Organizations that handle stray or distressed animals — including those that take animals into custody, sell seized animals, or bill former owners for care expenses — will face new rules on how sale proceeds are managed and caps on recoverable expenses through a prescribed fee schedule. Veterinarians gain clearer authority to euthanize suffering animals when an owner cannot be found, without fear of liability. Animal protection agencies that enter into administrative agreements with the government will take on formal reporting, auditing, insurance, and records-management obligations, which will add administrative overhead particularly for smaller nonprofit operators running animal shelters or rescue operations.