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:

"Rules to stop animals suffering unnecessarily"

If you own or are in charge of an animal, you must make sure it does not suffer unreasonable pain or distress. You commit an offence if you keep an animal alive when it is suffering, without a good reason. You also commit an offence if you try to sell an animal that is suffering, unless you are selling it to be put down.

If you are in charge of an animal, you must not leave it without making sure its needs are met. You commit an offence if you desert an animal and do not make sure it has what it needs to survive, such as food, water, and a safe place to live.

You must have a good reason if you do any of these things, or you will be committing an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999.

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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=DLM50404.

Topics:
Environment and resources > Farming and fishingCrime and justice > Criminal law
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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"

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15: Restriction on performance of surgical procedures, or

"Only vets or supervised vet students can do major animal surgeries, others must follow rules"

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.