Plain language law

New Zealand law explained for everyone

Animal Welfare Act 1999

Care of animals - Offences

14: Further animal welfare offences

You could also call this:

"Harming animals on purpose is against the law"

Illustration for Animal Welfare Act 1999

You commit an offence if you own or are in charge of an animal and keep it alive when it is suffering unreasonable pain or distress without a good reason. You also commit an offence if you try to sell an animal that is suffering unreasonable pain or distress, unless you are selling it to be put down. You commit an offence if you desert an animal and do not make sure its basic needs are met.

This text is automatically generated. It might be out of date or be missing some parts. Find out more about how we do this.

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM50404.

This page was last updated on — View changes

Topics:
Animal welfare > Animal crueltyAnimal welfare > Animal care and responsibilityCrime and justice > Criminal law
Previous

13: Strict liability, or

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

Next

15: Restriction on performance of surgical procedures, or

"Rules for doing surgery on animals"

Part 1Care of animals
Offences

14Further animal welfare offences

  1. A person commits an offence who, being the owner of, or a person in charge of, an animal, without reasonable excuse,—

  2. keeps the animal alive when it is in such a condition that it is suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress; or
    1. sells, attempts to sell, or offers for sale, otherwise than for the express purpose of being killed, the animal when it is suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.

      1. A person commits an offence who, being the owner of, or person in charge of, an animal, without reasonable excuse, deserts the animal in circumstances in which no provision is made to meet its physical, health, and behavioural needs.