An Act to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 with respect to the tail docking of dogs.
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Tail Docking) Act 2004.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Amendment of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 No 200
The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 is amended as set out in Schedule 1.
Schedule 1 Amendments
(Section 3)
[1] Section 12 Certain operations not to be performed on animals
Omit section 12 (2) (a1).
[2] Section 12 (2) (b) (i)
Omit “, female calf or dog”. Insert instead “or female calf”.
[3] Section 12 (2A)
Insert after section 12 (2):(2A) A person is not guilty of an offence against this section if the court is satisfied that the procedure comprising the alleged offence was the docking of the tail of a dog, was performed by a veterinary surgeon and was in the interests of the dog’s welfare.
[4] Section 24 Certain defences
Insert after section 24 (2):(3) Subsection (1) (d) does not apply to a person accused of an offence against section 12 (1) if the alleged offence was the docking of the tail of a dog.
[5] Schedule 2 Savings and transitional provisions
Insert at the end of clause 1 (1):