Animal Welfare Act
The Animal Welfare Act 1992 (the Act) regulates offences such as animal cruelty. The Act has a range of enforcement powers to promote and monitor acceptable standards of care, and protect animals from cruelty or welfare offences.
The Animal Welfare Codes of Practice set the minimum standards acceptable for dealing with, or interacting with, an animal.
The ACT Government has a service funding agreement with RSPCA ACT to provide animal welfare services including the provision of authorised inspectors under the Act.
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee is a statutory committee established under section 109 of the Act.
View the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and Codes of Practice on the ACT legislation register.
Animal Welfare Advisory Committee
The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC) is a statutory body established under the Animal Welfare Act 1992 as a ministerial advisory committee representing community views on animal welfare in the ACT. For more information see Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
Animal welfare complaints
Animal welfare and cruelty complaints will be jointly managed by Domestic Animal Services and RSPCA ACT. To report an animal cruelty or welfare concern, please contact Access Canberra on 13 22 81.
Animal Welfare and Management Strategy 2017-22
The Animal Welfare and Management Strategy 2017-22 (PDF 17.6MB) seeks to take a preventative and proactive approach to animal welfare and management.
During the development of the strategy 110 submissions were received and a summary of the comments received as part of the consultation (PDF 454KB) (Word 296KB) is available.
Australian animal welfare standards and guidelines
Nationally consistent standards and guidelines for the welfare of livestock are being developed cooperatively by government and livestock industries. The welfare standards and guidelines are based on the revision of the current Model Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Animals.
For more information see the Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines website.
Greyhound welfare and management
Greyhound racing and trialling is now banned in the ACT.
For information on greyhounds in the ACT and the greyhound re-homing process, please view the Greyhound Welfare and Management factsheet (PDF 97KB) (Word 36KB).
Humane preparation of crustaceans for consumption at home
The Crustaceans fact sheet (PDF 383KB) (Word 31KB) provides advice on preparing crustaceans for consumption at home.
Crustaceans must be chilled to the point of insensitivity (unconsciousness) prior to being killed. Any other methods of preparing crustaceans for consumption are considered unacceptable and should not be used.
Puppy and kitten farm legislation
Legislation to outlaw puppy and kitten farms in the ACT aims to prevent breeders from intensively breeding female cats and dogs for the local pet market.
