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Animal Welfare Act 1999

Provisions relating to administration - Powers in relation to injured or sick animals

139: Destruction of impounded animals that are diseased, injured, or sick

You could also call this:

"Putting down sick or injured animals that are impounded and can't be helped"

Illustration for Animal Welfare Act 1999

You can destroy an impounded animal if it is very sick or injured. This happens when an inspector, auxiliary officer, or veterinarian says so in writing. They must think the animal is suffering a lot. You do this if the animal is impounded under the Impounding Act 1955 or the Dog Control Act 1996. The people in charge must try to find the owner, but if they cannot, they must destroy the animal quickly. This is what the territorial authority must do if they cannot find the owner in a reasonable time after getting the certificate.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM51274.

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Topics:
Animal welfare > Animal health and safetyHousing and property > Land useEnvironment and resources > Conservation
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138: Destruction of injured or sick animals (other than marine mammals), or

"Putting down severely injured or sick animals to end their suffering"

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140: Injured and sick marine mammals, or

"Helping injured or sick marine mammals like dolphins and seals"

Part 7Provisions relating to administration
Powers in relation to injured or sick animals

139Destruction of impounded animals that are diseased, injured, or sick

  1. Despite section 138, if—

  2. an inspector, auxiliary officer, or veterinarian certifies in writing that an animal impounded in a pound under the Impounding Act 1955 or the Dog Control Act 1996 is so diseased, injured, or sick that it is in a state of continual suffering; and
    1. the territorial authority having jurisdiction over the pound is unable to find the owner of that animal within a reasonable time after the inspector, auxiliary officer, or veterinarian has given such a certificate,—
        1. the territorial authority must, without delay, destroy that animal or cause it to be destroyed.