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To Our Staff, Partners, Stakeholders, and the Citizens of Saskatchewan,
It is with great humility and a profound sense of responsibility that I accept the role of Chief of the Saskatchewan Animal Welfare Enforcement Agency (SAEA). As I begin this journey, I have spent considerable time reflecting on the future of our organization, our mandate, and the principles that will guide us moving forward. While our responsibilities under The Animal Protection Act, 2018 remain unchanged, I believe it is equally important to define how we will carry out those responsibilities and the values that will shape our culture.
SAEA exists for one fundamental purpose: to protect animals from distress. Every day, our officers are called upon to investigate complaints, assess animal welfare, educate owners, achieve compliance, and take enforcement action when necessary. The authority entrusted to us by the Province of Saskatchewan is significant, and with that authority comes an equally significant obligation to exercise it fairly, professionally, and responsibly. How we accomplish our mandate is just as important as the mandate itself.
As Chief, I believe that animal welfare and public trust are inseparable. We cannot effectively protect animals without maintaining the trust and confidence of the communities we serve. Likewise, we cannot earn that trust without conducting ourselves professionally in every interaction. For that reason, I am establishing a clear direction for SAEA, one founded upon two guiding principles: Trauma-Assumed Care and H.O.P.E. (Healthy Outcomes through Positive Experiences).
Trauma-Informed Care
Before discussing where SAEA is going, it is important to understand the concept of Trauma-Informed Care. Over the past two decades, Trauma-Informed Care has become widely adopted across healthcare, education, social services, emergency management, and law enforcement. At its core, Trauma-Informed Care recognizes that trauma can significantly influence a person’s behaviour, emotions, decision-making, communication, and interactions with others. It encourages professionals to recognize that what they see on the surface may not reflect the entirety of a person’s circumstances.
Trauma-Informed Care asks a simple but powerful question: “What happened to this person?”
This perspective acknowledges that fear, anger, defensiveness, distrust, withdrawal, or resistance may be rooted in experiences that are not immediately visible. An owner who appears hostile may actually be frightened. An owner who appears indifferent may be overwhelmed by personal challenges. An owner who appears resistant may have had previous negative experiences with authority figures. Trauma Informed Care encourages professionals to understand these possibilities before drawing conclusions.
This is an important and valuable framework. It has helped countless organizations improve communication, reduce unnecessary conflict, and better serve the public. However, after considerable reflection, I believe SAEA must go one step further.
Trauma-Assumed Care
As Chief, I am directing SAEA to adopt a Trauma-Assumed Care approach.
The difference between Trauma-Informed Care and Trauma-Assumed Care may appear subtle, but it is significant.
Trauma-Informed Care seeks to understand trauma and its effects. Trauma-Assumed Care focuses on how we conduct ourselves regardless of whether trauma is known, suspected, or disclosed. Rather than attempting to determine who has experienced trauma and who has not, we recognize that we may never know the complete story behind a person, a family, an animal, or a situation.
Because we may never know that story, we choose to treat everyone with professionalism, dignity, respect, and fairness from the outset.
Trauma-Assumed Care asks a different question: “How do we ensure our actions promote safety, trust, professionalism, and accountability regardless of what experiences may exist beneath the surface?”
This distinction is important because our professionalism should never depend upon the behaviour of others. We do not need to know someone’s life story to treat them with dignity. We do not need to understand every challenge they face to communicate respectfully. We do not need to agree with someone’s decisions to remain professional. Most importantly, we do not need to excuse neglect or animal suffering to treat people with respect.
Why SAEA Is Adopting Trauma-Assumed Care
As Animal Protection Officers, we are not social workers, therapists, psychologists, or counsellors. We are enforcement professionals entrusted with protecting animals and upholding The Animal Protection Act, 2018.
Our responsibility is to assess facts, evaluate animal welfare, ensure compliance, and take action when animals are in distress. Trauma-Assumed Care does not change those responsibilities. It strengthens them.
When animals are in distress, we will act.
When compliance is required, we will require it.
When orders are necessary, we will issue them.
When animals must be seized, we will seize them.
When prosecution is warranted, we will pursue it.
The law remains unchanged. Our commitment to animal welfare remains unchanged. What changes is our approach. We will enforce the law firmly, fairly, and professionally while maintaining the dignity of every person involved.
Trauma-Assumed Care for Animals
This philosophy extends beyond people and applies equally to the animals we serve.
Many animals encountered by SAEA have experienced neglect, abuse, abandonment, chronic stress, fear, or environmental deprivation. Just as human behaviour is often shaped by experience, animal behaviour is influenced by experience as well.
A fearful dog may appear aggressive. A withdrawn animal may appear indifferent. A reactive animal may simply be overwhelmed. Understanding this reality allows our officers to make better assessments, improve handling techniques, reduce unnecessary stress, and ultimately achieve better welfare outcomes.
Trauma-Assumed Care reminds us that behaviour is often communication. When we understand that principle, we become better investigators, handlers, and advocates for animal welfare.
H.O.P.E. – Healthy Outcomes Through Positive Experiences
If Trauma-Assumed Care defines how we interact with people and animals, H.O.P.E. defines how we pursue solutions.
H.O.P.E. stands for Healthy Outcomes through Positive Experiences. While many systems have traditionally focused on adversity, trauma, deficiencies, and failures, H.O.P.E. reminds us that lasting change is built through positive relationships, support systems, education, mentorship, opportunities for success, and meaningful connections.
In practical terms, H.O.P.E. encourages us to ask an additional question.
Not only, “What is wrong?”
But also, “What is working?”
As an enforcement agency, identifying deficiencies remains part of our mandate. However, effective officers also recognize strengths when they exist. An owner may require a compliance order while simultaneously making meaningful improvements. A family may be facing hardship while still demonstrating genuine care for their animals. A community may have challenges while possessing resources capable of supporting positive outcomes.
Recognizing strengths does not weaken accountability. It strengthens it. By acknowledging progress, encouraging positive change, and building upon existing strengths, we increase the likelihood of sustainable compliance and long-term animal welfare improvements.
The SAEA Standard
Together, Trauma-Assumed Care and H.O.P.E. form the foundation of how SAEA will operate moving forward.
They remind us to be professional without becoming detached. Compassionate without becoming naïve. Firm without becoming harsh. Accountable without becoming punitive.
Most importantly, they ensure that animal welfare remains at the centre of every decision we make while recognizing that lasting change is often achieved through professionalism, dignity, respect, and hope.
My vision is not for SAEA to become known simply as an enforcement agency. My vision is for SAEA to become recognized as a trusted, professional, and respected animal welfare organization that protects animals, upholds the law, serves the public, and leads with integrity.
An organization that never compromises animal welfare.
An organization that earns public trust through professionalism.
An organization that understands that accountability and compassion can coexist.
An organization that leaves every animal, every owner, every investigation, and every community better than we found them whenever possible.
To our staff, our partners, our stakeholders, and the citizens of Saskatchewan, I want you to know that SAEA will remain unwavering in its commitment to protecting animals. We will continue to enforce the law fairly and consistently. We will continue to hold individuals accountable when animals are in distress. We will continue to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.
At the same time, we will lead with professionalism, dignity, respect, and hope. This is the future I envision for SAEA. This is the standard I expect. And this is the direction in which I will lead.
Respectfully,
Lavan Thiruketheesawaranathan
Chief
Saskatchewan Animal Welfare Enforcement Agency
