ACT Strategic Companion Animal Management Package
Summary
Legislative change to six animal areas delivered in a package of reforms
In December 1999 the ACT Government released for public comment a package of reforms to the Dog Control Act 1975, the Animal Nuisance Act 1975 and the Animal Welfare Act 1992. The package contained:
- the Domestic Animals Bill
- the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill
- the ACT Urban Cat Management Strategy
- the Charter for Responsible Dog Ownership
- the Charter for Responsible Cat Ownership
- the Code of Practice for the Sale of Animals.
Amendments to the Animal Welfare Act 1992 were implemented in December 2000 and the Domestic Animals Act 2000 was enacted in June 2001.
For the first time in Australia the reforms introduced a ban on the docking of dogs' tails and set a precedent for other jurisdictions to follow.
The package can be viewed on the ACT Government website at www.act.gov.au/environ/pets/index