Animal Testing Is Still Happening in Ontario - And Here’s What We’re Doing About It.
Ontario banned invasive testing on dogs and cats - but millions of other animals still aren’t protected. Here’s what we’re doing about it.
Earlier this year, Ontario made history. The province became the first in Canada - and the first jurisdiction in the world - to ban invasive medical research on dogs and cats. It was a landmark moment, and proof that when people speak up for animals, governments listen.
But the protection only goes so far. And at the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, we believe every animal deserves better.
How We Got Here
The push to protect animals in Ontario laboratories gained momentum in 2025, when whistleblowers exposed a secret dog lab operating at St. Joseph’s Hospital in London, Ontario. Dogs were being subjected to invasive cardiac experiments and then euthanized. The public outrage was swift and widespread. Premier Doug Ford pledged to act - and in May 2026, Bill 75 passed, amending Ontario’s Animals for Research Act to ban invasive medical research on dogs and cats.
It was a hard-fought, historic win - driven by advocates, whistleblowers, and organizations like Animal Justice and Humane World for Animals who refused to stay silent.
The Gap That Remains
But Bill 75 only covers dogs and cats. Pigs, rabbits, primates, and millions of other animals are still used in Ontario laboratories with no equivalent protection. In 2024 alone, 3.7 million animals were used in experiments across Canada. Countries like the UK, US, and Germany already have federal laws governing animal testing. Canada does not. And the only national centre dedicated to finding alternatives to animal testing was forced to shut down due to lack of funding.
Every animal feels pain. Every animal deserves protection - regardless of species.
The Good News
Bill 75 already contains a mechanism that allows protections to be extended to other prescribed animals. The legal framework exists. What is needed now is the political will to use it.
What We Are Asking For
At the Hamilton/Burlington SPCA, we are calling on Premier Doug Ford and Solicitor General Michael Kerzner to extend Bill 75 protections to all animals used in Ontario laboratories - not just dogs and cats.
Every animal matters. Help us prove it.
