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Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals Legislation

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Act and Regulations

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986
Version incorporating amendments as at 1 September 2009 - POCTA Act 1986 V076 Sep 09 (PDF 976 KB)

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Regulations 2008 (Principal Regulations)
Version incorporating amendments as at 16 December 2008 - POCTA Regulations 2008 V1 Dec 08 (PDF 818 KB)

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Domestic Fowl) Regulations 2006
First version commenced 01 January 2007 - POCTA (DF) Regs V1 Jan 07 (PDF 142KB)

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals legislation summary

Governing Orders and Notices

Recognition of interstate court bans on animal ownership - Declaration of interstate laws (PDF 278KB)
Areas where large leghold traps may be used - Order - large leghold trapping areas (PDF 726KB)
Conditions on use of glue traps by commercial pest control operators (Expires 1 Jan 2010) - Approval notice for use of Glue Traps in Victoria (PDF 46KB)
Period animal may be left alive in leghold traps in certain circumstances (Expires 16 Dec 2009) - Approval - period live in leg hold traps (PDF 22KB)

Approved Hunting Organisations

The Code of Practice for the Welfare of Animals in Hunting defines an approved organisation as one that promotes ethical hunting and compliance of members with the code by:
  • Developing hunter education and proficiency testing programs and encouraging members to participate in these programs
  • Using practice ranges so that members may use simulated targets to develop proficiency. New members or novices should practice before using firearms or bows in hunting
  • Appointing sufficient numbers of experienced members as field officers so that the hunting activities of members can be adequately assessed
  • Providing an annual report of the hunting activities of members (and the registration of hounds, if applicable) to the Bureau of Animal Welfare



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