 The organization's legal name is the "Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty," reflecting its history of both animal and child cruelty prevention.However, for the purpose of relating to the public and to reflect the current activities of the Society, the name "Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Nova Scotia SPCA)" is used for day-to-day business.Nova Scotia has the distinction of being the first place in North America to pass laws for the prevention of cruelty to animals.