Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Care of animals - Offences

12: Animal welfare offences

You could also call this:

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

If you own an animal or are in charge of one, you must follow the rules. You break the law if you do not follow what is said in section 10 about taking care of the animal. You also break the law if the animal is sick or hurt and you do not follow what is said in section 11 about taking care of it.

If you kill an animal, you must do it in a way that does not cause it too much pain or distress. You break the law if you kill an animal in a way that causes it unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress. This is also an animal welfare offence.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM50401.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Farming and fishingHealth and wellbeing > Public health
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11: Obligation to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals, or

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

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13: Strict liability, or

"No blame needed: you can still be guilty even if you didn't mean to hurt an animal"

Part 1Care of animals
Offences

12Animal welfare offences

  1. A person commits an offence who, being the owner of, or a person in charge of, an animal,—

  2. fails to comply, in relation to the animal, with section 10; or
    1. fails, in the case of an animal that is ill or injured, to comply, in relation to the animal, with section 11; or
      1. kills the animal in such a manner that the animal suffers unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.