163 Animal cruelty

Animal cruelty includes acts that cause harm to, or the death of, an animal, except for offences relating to the lawful hunting, poaching, fishing or capture of wildlife. Harm refers to acts that cause suffering or puts an animal’s life in danger. 

Intent to harm is not required, for example the harm may be through neglect, or training animals by use of excessive physical force. Animals include domestic pets, livestock, working animals, racing animals, and animals in a zoo or sanctuary. Harming or killing wildlife is excluded, except where kept as pets.

• Breach animal welfare regulations
• Injure or torture an animal
• Maltreatment of an animal by a vet
• Maltreatment of an animal in the racing industry
• Neglect or ill-treatment of a pet
• Unlawfully harm or kill a pet or livestock
• Unlawfully use an animal for racing or gambling
• Other animal cruelty offences

• Breach domestic animal registration legislation – coded to 1722 Pet registration and management offences
• Fishing offences – coded to 1621 Fishing offences
• Sexual activity with an animal – coded to 0391 Offensive sexual acts
• Unlawfully hunt, poach, capture, or take wildlife – coded to 1622 Parks and wildlife offences
• Unlawful trafficking of protected animals or their parts, such as ivory, pelts, or shells, into or out of Australia or New Zealand – coded to 1622 Parks and wildlife offences