Lecture 23 Animal Welfare Legislation

Animal trials 動物試驗

demonstrate an unexpected way of thinking about who or what the law acts upon > animals were given sufficient legal status to permit the law to act as it would upon a human

evidence‑based welfare decisions grounded in:

Ethics and welfare science - nutrition, environment,health, behaviour

Understanding species‑specific needs

Legal obligations

Public perception

Emergency plans and risk management

Animal enrichment

If animals have rights, humans must accept that animals:

are conscious beings not machines or objects

have their own interests

should not be exploited

should not be killed > any other rights are pointless if they can be circumvented by being killed

Key NSW legislation

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 Defines cruelty and prohibits harmful procedures.

Companion Animals Act 1998 Covers identification, registration, owner responsibilities.E.g., animals must be "microchipped by 12 weeks and registered."

Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 Regulates zoos, circuses, and display animals.

Animal Research Act 1985 Enforces the 3Rs, ethics committees, licensing.

Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Protects wildlife, ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Veterinary Practice Act 2003 Ensures competence and public safety in veterinary practice.

Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 Regulates hunting and invasive species control.

Greyhound Racing Act 2017 Regulates racing and greyhound welfare.

Development of national standards is slow due to:

Industry influence

Conflicts of interest

Lack of a legal definition of "animal welfare"