Animal Welfare

"Animal welfare" means how an animal is coping with the conditions in which it lives. An animal is in a good state of welfare if (as indicated by scientific evidence) it is healthy, comfortable, well nourished, safe, able to express innate behaviour, and if it is not suffering from unpleasant states such as pain, fear, and distress. Good animal welfare requires disease prevention and veterinary treatment, appropriate shelter, management, nutrition, humane handling and humane slaughter/killing. Animal welfare refers to the state of the animal; the treatment that an animal receives is covered by other terms such as animal care, animal husbandry, and humane treatment. [OIE May 2008 - International Office of Animal Health] You will need Adobe Acrobat to view the documents below. A free copy can be downloaded from Adobe Acrobat (external link) Proposed Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008 and Regulatory Impact Statement Review: Welfare Outcomes of Leg-hold Trap Use in Victoria Acts, Regulations & Codes of Practice Animals in Research and Teaching Animal Welfare Topics Committees Welfare Links Related Information Bureau of Animal Welfare Horse Agistment Permanent Identification of Cats and Dogs Rodeos in Victoria Research funded by Domestic Animal Welfare Trust Fund Information Notes Animal Welfare Fact Sheets Transport and Care of Livestock Animal Welfare for Livestock (PDF 543kb) Tail docking of Dogs FAQ's (PDF 64kb) External Websites Related Sites for Victorian Farmers Responsible Pet Ownership Program (external link) Australian Animal Welfare Strategy

The Victorian Government has enacted legislation to safeguard the welfare of animals.

To find information about animal welfare, please select from the topic links in the column at the left of the page.

Victorian organisations interested in animal welfare issues may complete the registration form to receive e-mail notification of the latest animal welfare updates.

Bureau of Animal Welfare

The Bureau of Animal Welfare is located in the Biosecurity Victoria branch of the Department of Primary Industries. It was formed to be the focal point for liaison, co-ordination and co-operation in animal welfare matters between the states, Commonwealth governments, local government and animal welfare agencies in Victoria.

The functions of the Bureau are to:

• Provide administrative and technical support to the Victorian Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (AWAC), Domestic Animals Management Implementation Committee (DAMIC), Wildlife and Small Consultancies Animal Ethics Committee, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Inspectors Group, Animal Ethics Committee Advisory Committee and the Responsible Pet Ownership Education Advisory Committee
• Resolve issues raised by animal welfare agencies and organisations responsible for animal welfare and management.
  
• Facilitate the operation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 1997, Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994, Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Regulations 2005, Impounding Livestock Act 1994 and Impounding Livestock Regulations 2008 .
  
• Review and develop codes of practice, guidelines and standards for the protection and promotion of good welfare for all animals.
  
• Provide advice to Municipalities to facilitate their implementation of the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act 1994 ,the Domestic (Feral & Nuisance) Animals Regulations 1996 and the Impounding Livestock Act 1994.
  
• Regulate the use of animals in research and teaching.
  
• Provide representation on the Primary Industry Standing Committee's Animal Welfare Committee to liaise with animal welfare representatives from Australian and New Zealand governments, the CSIRO and Animal Health Australia.
• Monitor animal welfare developments in other states/territories,countries, research organisations and welfare organisations.