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| Animal Welfare Act
The Duty of Care is yours - you must take it seriously!If you have animals, own animals or look after animals, you are responsible for their welfare. This applies whether your animals are pets or livestock. You may be deemed to have the care or charge of an animal if you are: - The animal’s owner
- A person with control, possession or custody of the animal
- An operator or manager of commercial premises involving the animal
- A share farmer
- A chief executive officer or a director of a company that owns the animal
Employers are liable for the actions, or inactions, of their employees in relation to the welfare of an animal.
If a company is convicted of an animal welfare offence, everyone in the management of the company (ie including directors) is deemed to have committed the same offence unless they can demonstrate the offence occurred without their knowledge or they took action to prevent the offence.
The maximum penalties for offences were increased in 2008. Importantly, a system of infringement notices was established to enable the less serious animal welfare breaches to be dealt with more quickly and efficiently. In practice, this means that people who are cruel to an animal (and that includes neglect) are more likely to be charged and convicted than previously.
There is a legal requirement that animals unable to provide for themselves must be given appropriate and sufficient food, water, shelter and exercise. There is a legal interpretation (refer S8 of the Animal Welfare Act 1993) of what “appropriate and sufficient” means in terms of food, water and shelter.
View the Animal Welfare Act on the Tasmanian Legislation Website . The Animal Welfare Act is currently under review. The review is being undertaken to ensure that amendments to the Act introduced in July 2008 are operating effectively and that our legislation is keeping pace with community expectations. Visit the Review of the Animal Welfare Act page to find out more about the current review. All states are working towards nationally consistent livestock welfare standards and guidelines. To find out more view Tasmania's Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines.
Further Information Contact: Animal Health and Welfare BranchAnimal Health and Welfare Branch
Biosecurity and Product Integrity Division
13 St Johns Avenue
NEW TOWN TAS 7008
Phone: 03 6233 6875
Email: AnimalWelfare.Enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au | |
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