Rural & Animal
12. Animal Cruelty
Authors: Staff Legal Eagle
Firm / Chambers:
Last updated: 26 Aug 2015
- An "act of cruelty" is defined by law as an act or omission that has the consequence of an animal being:
- beaten, kicked, killed, wounded, mutilated, maimed, abused, tormented, tortured, terrified or infuriated;
- overloaded, over driven or over used;
- exposed to excessive heat or cold; or
- inflicted with pain.
- It is against the law to:
- commit an act of cruelty against an animal;
- authorise another person to undertake an act of cruelty;
- fail to take reasonable steps to prevent an act of cruelty;
- fail to take reasonable steps to reduce pain where cruelty is being inflicted; or
- fail to provide veterinary assistance when needed.
- Worse than a cruelty offence is the offence of aggravated cruelty. This occurs when an act of cruelty is committed and the animal is killed, deformed, seriously disabled or where the animals is so severely injured, diseased or in such poor physical condition that it is cruel to keep the animal alive.
- Acts of cruelty against an animal are punishable under the criminal law.
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