Allegations of animal abuse and neglect will no longer be investigated by the Saskatoon Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) due to insufficient funding.

The change, which comes into affect April 1, follows a request made last year by the group and the Regina Humane Society for funding assistance from the province.

Currently, the Saskatoon SPCA has two animal protection officers (APOs), appointed by the provincial Ministry of Agriculture. For 40 years, the group has operated its investigations into alleged violations of Saskatchewan’s Animal Protection Act without provincial funding, relying instead on donations, fundraising, and a grant from the City of Saskatoon, CTV News reports.

“We’ve been underfunded for so long and the effects of that have shown,” Saskatoon SPCA’s executive director, Graham Dickson, tells CTV News. “Our work isn’t as good as it could be because our employees don’t have the resources and tools to do their jobs.”

The Ministry of Agriculture currently has a funding agreement with Animal Protection Services of Saskatchewan (APSS), a non-profit organization, to enforce legislation for livestock and companion animals outside of Saskatoon and Regina, the Saskatoon StarPhoenix reports. The ministry says it is exploring alternative models of animal welfare enforcement in Saskatchewan for ‘equitable, consistent, and affordable service.’

The Saskatoon SPCA will continue to operate the city’s animal shelter and oversee adoption services. It is unclear, however, who will enforce animal protection laws in Saskatoon after April 1.

“At this point forward, our role will be one of advocacy and to make sure this work is done and done consistently across the province,” Dickson tells CTV News. “It doesn’t matter who’s doing it, as long as it’s being upheld.”