Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Conservation Act 1987

Control of dogs

26ZZS: No liability where dog wounded in attempt to destroy

You could also call this:

"No liability for hurting a dog if you're trying to destroy it in a reasonable way"

If you are allowed to destroy a dog under the Conservation Act 1987 and you do it in a reasonable way, you will not be in trouble with the law for hurting or killing the dog. You might hurt the dog while trying to destroy it, but if you do it in a reasonable way, you will still not be in trouble. If you hurt a dog while trying to destroy it, you must try to stop its suffering as soon as possible.

If you do not try to stop the dog's suffering after hurting it, the law will not protect you from being in trouble. You must take all reasonable steps to end the dog's suffering if you hurt it while trying to destroy it. This means you have to do what you can to make sure the dog does not suffer for a long time.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM106098.

Topics:
Environment and resources > ConservationGovernment and voting > Government departments
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26ZZR: Power of warranted officer to request information, or

"What happens when an officer asks for your details in a controlled dog area"

Next

26ZZT: Limitation of liability for damage, or

"Protection for officers who do their job and accidentally cause damage"

Part 5CControl of dogs

26ZZSNo liability where dog wounded in attempt to destroy

  1. No person who is entitled under this Act to destroy any dog, and who does so in a reasonable manner or who wounds or maims the dog in the course of attempting to so destroy it, shall be under any criminal or civil liability for the injury done to the dog or for its death.

  2. Nothing in subsection (1) shall apply to any person who wounds or maims a dog in the course of attempting to destroy it and does not take all reasonable steps to terminate its suffering.

Compare
  • 1982 No 42 s 81
Notes
  • Section 26ZZS: inserted, on , by section 3 of the Conservation Amendment Act (No 2) 1996 (1996 No 14).