New Zealand Legislation: Acts

11 Obligation to alleviate pain or distress of ill or injured animals

• (1) The owner of an animal that is ill or injured, and every person in charge of such an animal, must, where practicable, ensure that the animal receives treatment that alleviates any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress being suffered by the animal.

  (2) This section does not—

  • (a) limit section 10; or

  • (b) require a person to keep an animal alive when it is in such a condition that it is suffering unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.