Animal-welfare agencies in Saskatchewan are lauding provincial legislation that increases fines and jail time for people who abuse animals.

The provincial government said Monday people convicted of animal abuse-related crimes would face maximum penalties of two years in jail, a $25,000 fine or both.

The current fines range from a maximum of $5,000 for a first offence to $10,000 for second or subsequent convictions. The maximum jail time an animal abuser currently faces is six months.

The changes come in the form of amendments to Saskatchewan's Animal Protection Act of 1999.

The Saskatchewan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) applauded the move, saying the agency's board of directors had been recommending stiffer penalties for a while.

SSPCA Executive Director Frances Wach said improvements to the law were discussed as part of a review the agency started about two years ago.

"Currently [the legislation] says, 'no person responsible' for an animal shall cause it to be in distress, and the new amendments will state, 'no person shall,' so, for example, if I were to abuse my dog I can be charged under the Animal Protection Act, but if you were to abuse my dog, currently you cannot be charged [under the act]," Wach said.

The province added it will also fund the SPCA up to an additional $390,000 for the agency to deal with an increase in animal abuse cases. The money will be phased in over three years, beginning this year.

Wach said the SSPCA would use the money to hire full-time animal protection officers.

The government didn't say when the proposed amendments would become law.