The province’s government announced that the Saskatchewan Animal Enforcement Agency (SAEA) will now be delivering animal welfare services, replacing Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS), which ceased operations as of March 31.
The release notes that the transition “supports [Saskatchewan’s] continued commitment to protecting the safety and welfare of animals across the province.”
Agriculture Minister David Marit said his government’s partnership with SAEA will ensure “animal welfare enforcement continues without interruption.”
“This new agency brings a strong, long-term approach that supports effective and compassionate enforcement that protects communities and animals across Saskatchewan,” said Marit in a statement.
The release notes SAEA will be responsible for enforcing the Animal Protection Act throughout the province — save for the city of Regina, where animal services continues to be handled by the Regina Humane Society.
“SAEA was selected through a public, competitive procurement process,” states the news release. “The group brings strong internal governance framework with civilian board oversight to ensure accountability and enforcement.”
The province announced in January that enforcement would be changing hands after APSS decided to “discontinue its operations.”
In November 2025, Saskatchewan introduced new protection legislation in a bid to better address animal suffering.
The new Animal Protection Amendment Act would create officers to educate the public and livestock industry on animal care, enable authorities to obtain telewarrants to relive animal distress, establish a code of conduct for animal protection officers and create a chief officer position to oversee officer conduct.
Not long after, the Saskatchewan SPCA expressed concerns with the planned legislation — specifically when it came to a reduction in funding for the new SAEA. In a statement, the SaskSPCA noted the APSS had previously reported that significant overtime had to be taken on by its staff due to “a growing demand and the complexity of cases.”
The SaskSPCA called it unrealistic to expect the new SAEA to deliver strengthened enforcement in the face of reduced funding.
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