Bureau of 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]

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Whats New
We are Family program
Animals and Heat
Animals and bushfires (updated)
Prohibited Procedures for Dogs

General Information
Bureau of Animal Welfare
Animals in Research and Teaching
Responsible Pet ownership Website
Responsible Pet Ownership Schools Program(external site)
Committees

Legislation
Acts, Regulations & Codes of Practice
Victorian Codes of Practice
Livestock Management Act

Information

Animal Welfare		Animal Management
General Animal Welfare Topics		Domestic Animal Businesses
Help for Animals by the Bushfires		Breeding Establishments
Animals & Heat		Permanent Identification (microchip) standards (cats, dogs & horses)
Rodeos in Victoria		Domestic Animal Management Plans
Prohibited Procedures for Dogs		Horse Agistment
Use of electronic collars on animals		Research funded by the Domestic Animal Welfare Trust Fund
Animal Welfare for Livestock (PDF 543KB)
Transport and Care of Livestock
Review: Welfare Outcome of Leg-hold Trap Use in Victoria
Glue Trap use fact sheet
More Animal Welfare Information notes

External Websites
General Animal Welfare Related Links
Related Sites for Victorian Farmers
Australian Animal Welfare Strategy