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Animal Welfare Act 1999

Care of animals - Obligations of owners and of persons in charge of animals

11: Obligation to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals

You could also call this:

"You must help ill or injured animals to stop their pain and suffering."

If you own an animal that is ill or injured, or if you are in charge of such an animal, you must ensure the animal gets treatment to stop any unnecessary pain or distress. You have to make sure the animal does not suffer unreasonable pain. This rule does not affect what is said in section 10, and it does not mean you have to keep an animal alive if it is suffering too much.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM50299.

Topics:
Health and wellbeing > Public health
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10: Obligation in relation to physical, health, and behavioural needs of animals, or

"Looking after animals: you must meet their physical, health, and behavioural needs."

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12: Animal welfare offences, or

"Rules to protect animals from harm and make sure they are treated kindly"

Part 1Care of animals
Obligations of owners and of persons in charge of animals

11Obligation to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals

  1. The owner of an animal that is ill or injured, and every person in charge of such an animal, must ensure that the animal receives treatment that alleviates any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress being suffered by the animal.

  2. This section does not—

  3. limit section 10; or
    1. require a person to keep an animal alive when it is in such a condition that it is suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.

      Notes
      • Section 11(1): amended, on , by section 12 of the Animal Welfare Amendment Act (No 2) 2015 (2015 No 49).