A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations

3rd edition, 2018 · Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Canada’s nationally recognized voluntary standard for kennel operations, written by the veterinary profession where federal law is silent.

01 What It Is

A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations is a voluntary national standard published by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, now in its third edition (2018). Because day-to-day animal welfare in Canada is largely a provincial matter and there is no single federal kennel-welfare law, this code serves as the country’s common reference point for how kennels should be run.

02 What It Covers

The code is organised into sections on the animal environment (housing and handling facilities), food and water, animal well-being, husbandry practices including responsible breeding, transport, and end-of-life considerations and euthanasia. It is grounded in the Five Freedoms and sets out detailed expectations for each area, with a summary of requirements appended.

03 How It Is Checked

As a voluntary professional code it is not enforced by inspection in the way a license is. Its authority comes from being written and endorsed by the national veterinary body and widely cited by provincial associations and regulators, so it functions as the recognized benchmark of good practice rather than a certification scheme.

04 Why It Matters

It is the closest thing Canada has to a national kennel standard. For dogs in Canadian kennels it provides a single, profession-backed statement of what adequate housing, husbandry, transport and end-of-life care look like, against which operations and provincial rules can be measured.

Common Questions

Is it law?

No. It is a voluntary national code of practice published by the veterinary profession. Because everyday animal welfare in Canada is largely provincial and there is no single federal kennel-welfare law, it serves as the country’s common reference.

Who publishes it?

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, now in its third edition, from 2018.

What does it cover?

The animal environment, housing and handling facilities, food and water, animal well-being, husbandry including responsible breeding, transport, and end-of-life care, grounded in the Five Freedoms.

How is it enforced?

As a voluntary professional code it is not enforced by inspection. Its authority comes from being written and endorsed by the national veterinary body and widely cited by provincial associations and regulators.

Who does it apply to?

Kennel operations across Canada, as a benchmark of good practice.

Why does it matter?

It is the closest thing Canada has to a national kennel standard, a single profession-backed statement of what adequate housing, husbandry, transport and end-of-life care look like.

Primary sources

A Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations, 3rd edition 2018 (PDF)canadianveterinarians.net