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ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1992 - SECT 16 Using unfit animal

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1992 - SECT 16

Using unfit animal

    (1)     A person commits an offence if—

        (a)     the person uses an animal; and

        (b)     the animal is unfit for the use; and

        (c)     the person—

              (i)     knows the animal is unfit for the use; or

              (ii)     is negligent about whether the animal is fit for the use.

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

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

        (a)     the person authorises the use of the animal; and

        (b)     the person—

              (i)     knows the animal is unfit for the use; or

              (ii)     is negligent about whether the animal is fit for the use.

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

    (3)     A person commits an offence if—

        (a)     the person uses an animal; and

        (b)     the animal is unfit for the use.

Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.

Examples

1     the animal has recently given birth

2     the animal is sick or injured

3     the animal is used in a children's petting zoo and is distressed by the contact

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

    (5)     In this section:

"display", an animal—

        (a)     means to put an animal in a prominent place for the purposes of making the animal visible to people; and

        (b)     includes displaying an animal—

              (i)     for sale; or

              (ii)     in an exhibition.

"show", an animal, means to enter the animal in a show, sport, contest or competition.

"use", an animal, includes display, drive, ride, show or work the animal.