The ACT has just passed a set of animal welfare laws that are the first in Australia to recognise animals as “sentient beings”.
The new legislation, which will go into effect in six months, comes with harsh penalties for people who mistreat animals – from their pets to wildlife.
The laws make it punishable by up to a $16,000 fine and a year in jail to injure an animal and not take appropriate action to help them, like calling a vet. People in the ACT are also required to contact Access Canberra, a local government agency, within two hours if they injure a mammal such as a kangaroo.
Violent animal activities will attract a fine of up to $48,000 and three years’ jail time, while neglecting your pet – not providing it adequate food, water, shelter or cleanliness of environment – will cop you a $4000 fine.
Interestingly, one of the new welfare laws will see owners fined $4000 for confining their dogs for more than a day – that means keeping a dog cooped up in an enclosed space without access to exercise for over 24 hours.
The legislation reads:
Section 6F [of the new law] makes it a strict liability offence not to exercise a dog when a dog is confined, unless reasonable exercise is provided or the confinement is necessary for the dog’s welfare.
So that means that this one won’t apply to dogs kept inside for their own welfare, like if they’re recovering from vet treatment.
Otherwise, though, pet owners are going to have to commit to exercising their dogs, or face the long paw of the law – exactly as it should be, in my humble opinion. Walkies are a daily pleasure that no pooch should be denied.
