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 hurt animals that can't be helped"

If you have an animal that is very sick or hurt, it might need to be put down. This can happen if an inspector, auxiliary officer, or veterinarian says in writing that the animal is suffering a lot. They must check if the animal's owner can be found, and if not, the animal will be put down.

You can read more about where animals are taken when they are found, in the Impounding Act 1955 and the Dog Control Act 1996. If the owner cannot be found, the people in charge of the area must put the animal down quickly. This is to stop the animal from suffering any more.

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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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138: Destruction of injured or sick animals (other than marine mammals), or

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


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140: Injured and sick marine mammals, or

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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.