MONTREAL — The Quebec government has launched a working group aimed at strengthening measures to prevent pet cruelty -- a move lauded by animal rights activists who say regulations in the province are woefully lacking.

"It came to a head during the election campaign (last December)," said committee chair Geoff Kelley in an interview.

"We received a petition to the government with over 55,000 names on it. So it's something that resonates with a large number of people in the population."

Three major puppy mill busts in less than three months late last year coincided with the provincial election campaign. Broadcast images of hundreds of animals found in appallingly inhumane conditions highlighted the need for government action and helped spur people into demanding something be done.

The Agriculture Ministry initiated the committee last week. It is mandated to examine the problems linked to pet welfare and propose short- and medium-term solutions that may include a regulation that would make the registration of all places where dogs are housed, sold, or bred mandatory in the province.

Representatives from veterinary and pet store associations will sit on the panel alongside government officials and animal welfare groups.

Rebecca Aldworth, director of animal programs with Humane Society International Canada, says clandestine puppy mills have been a concern for animal activists in the province for decades.

"The Montreal SPCA has files on over 800 mills operating in the Montreal area alone," she said.

"We know a lot of mills are setting up in agricultural areas because it's far easier to have large scale commercial breeding operations in those areas. So we know that there are thousands of puppy mills operating in this province. Many of these breeding operations are simply unacceptable in terms of the conditions they're forcing these animals to live in."

Alanna Devine of the Canadian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says many of the province's breeding facilities are not doing anything illegal under current legislation, but may still be providing animals with inadequate care.

"Substandard doesn't mean illegal," said Devine, acting director for the SPCA.

"But we do see a lot of things that most people would consider unethical and inhumane."

Alongside a registration system, Aldworth and Devine agree on some simple changes that could halt the proliferation of puppy mills or lead to their closure in the province: increased penalties for the mill owners, stepped-up enforcement and more funds for animal welfare associations.

"We obviously need a registration system, but registration itself is not going to change anything," Devine said.

"There needs to be funding to really increase the enforcement of the legislation, the legislation needs to be changed to have stronger penalties and also we need to provide definitions of standards of care."

Anima-Quebec, the non-profit organization mandated by the provincial government to enforce its legislation, has guidelines for breeders that outstrip current legislation but are not required by law. It also operates under a skeleton crew of five inspectors, compared to nearly 300 in Ontario.

Quebec's animal rights groups would like to see the province develop animal welfare legislation more in line with the new laws passed by Ontario last November -- possibly the strongest in the country. It includes fines of up to $60,000, a lifetime ownership ban on those who abuse animals, and a requirement for veterinarians to report suspected abuse and neglect.

Devine and Aldworth believe the government is sincere in its will to change the current situation but hope it's also willing to act.

"The proof will be in what the provincial government agrees to," Aldworth said.

"It's very important this panel is not just window dressing."

Kelley, a Liberal member of the legislature, says lobbying by activists and the public served to put a worthy issue on the political radar and he's ready to listen.

"Nobody's proud of the fact that Quebec has developed the reputation as the puppy mill capital of North America," he said.

"I hope everyone can work together and we can put this reputation behind us. The one thing I do know is we have to do better."