Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1992 - SECT 10

    (1)     A person (other than a person in charge of an animal) commits an offence if—

        (a)     the person injures an animal; and

        (b)     the person does not take reasonable steps (including, if appropriate, seeking veterinary treatment) to alleviate any pain suffered by the animal.

Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.

    (2)     A person (other than a person in charge of an animal) commits an offence if—

        (a)     the person injures the animal; and

        (b)     the person does not take reasonable steps to tell the person in charge of the animal within 24 hours after the injury; and

        (c)     if there is no person in charge of the animal or if, after taking the reasonable steps, the person cannot tell the person in charge of the animal—tell the authority, or an inspector, within 72 hours after the injury.

Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.

Examples of animals that may have no person in charge

kangaroos, foxes, galahs

Note     An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).

    (3)     An offence against subsection (2) is a strict liability offence.