Animal Welfare Act 1999 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Animal Welfare Act 1999 |
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| New Zealand Parliament | |
(a) to reform the law relating to the welfare of animals and the prevention of their ill-treatment; and, in particular,—
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| Date passed | 1999 |
| Date of Royal Assent | 14 October 1999 |
| Date commenced | 1 January 2000 |
| Repealing legislation | |
| Animals Protection Act 1960 | |
| Related legislation | |
| Search and Surveillance Act 2012 | |
| Status: Current legislation | |
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 is a current law in New Zealand. It was created by the New Zealand Parliament. This law helps make sure animals are treated well.
The Ministry for Primary Industries looks after this Act. They make sure the rules are followed.
What is the Animal Welfare Act?
The Animal Welfare Act 1999 is a very important law. It sets out how people in New Zealand must treat animals. This law makes sure animals are safe and healthy. It also prevents them from being hurt or neglected.
This Act replaced an older law from 1960. The new Act brought in modern ideas about animal care. It focuses on what animals need to live a good life.
Why is this Act Important?
This law is important because it protects all animals in New Zealand. It covers pets, farm animals, and even wild animals. The Act makes it clear that animals can feel pain and fear. Because of this, they deserve to be treated kindly.
The Act helps people understand their responsibilities. If you own an animal, you must look after it properly. This means giving it food, water, and shelter. It also means making sure it doesn't get sick or hurt.
What Does the Act Do?
The Animal Welfare Act has several key goals. It wants to make sure animals are treated well. It also wants to stop people from being cruel to animals.
Here are some of the main things the Act does:
- It tells animal owners how to care for their animals.
- It explains what actions are allowed or not allowed with animals.
- It sets rules for using animals in science and teaching.
- It created special groups to help with animal welfare.
Protecting Animals' Needs
The Act says that people must meet the "physical, health, and behavioural needs" of animals. This means:
- Giving them enough food and clean water.
- Making sure they have a safe place to live.
- Protecting them from pain and disease.
- Allowing them to behave naturally. For example, a bird should be able to fly.
Rules for Animal Use
Sometimes, animals are used for research or teaching. The Act has strict rules for this. It makes sure that animals are used only when necessary. It also ensures they are treated humanely during these times.
Before animals can be used for research, it must be approved. This approval process checks if the research is important. It also checks if the animals will be treated well.
Who Helps Animals?
The Act set up two important groups:
- The National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). This group gives advice to the government. They help create rules for animal welfare.
- The National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC). This group focuses on animals used in science. They make sure ethical rules are followed.
These committees also help create "codes of welfare." These codes are like guidebooks. They explain the best ways to care for different types of animals. For example, there are codes for dairy cows or pet dogs.
Changes Over Time
Laws can be updated as new information comes out. The Animal Welfare Act 1999 has been changed since it was first made. For example, the Animal Welfare Amendment Act 2010 made some updates. These changes help the law stay current. They make sure it continues to protect animals effectively.
