South Australian Current Acts

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CRIMINAL LAW CONSOLIDATION ACT 1935 - SECT 83I

83I—Causing death or serious harm etc to working animals

        (1)         A person who, by an intentional act, causes the death of, or serious harm to, a working animal is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

        (2)         Subsection (1) does not apply to the death of a working animal, or the causing of serious harm to a working animal, that occurs in the following circumstances:

            (a)         where the death or serious harm is caused in the course of the provision of veterinary treatment to the working animal;

            (b)         where the death or serious harm is caused by, or with the consent of, the owner of the working animal or a person assisting the owner;

            (c)         where the death or serious harm occurs in the course of training the animal to perform its working function;

            (d)         where the death occurs under section 34B of the Animal Welfare Act 1985 ;

            (e)         where the death or serious harm occurs pursuant to an order under section 50 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 ;

            (f)         where the death occurs under section 63 of the Dog and Cat Management Act 1995 ;

            (g)         any other circumstances prescribed by the regulations.

        (3)         In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), it is a defence for the defendant to prove that he or she did not know, and could not reasonably have been expected to have known, that an animal the subject of the charge was a working animal.

        (4)         In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), a defence that would, but for this subsection, be available to the defendant under Part 3 Division 2 will be taken not to be available to a defendant if—

            (a)         the working animal the subject of the charge is a police dog, police horse or a correctional services dog; and

            (b)         the death or serious harm occurs in the course of, or is related to—

                  (i)         the commission of an offence by the defendant or a person in the company of the defendant; or

                  (ii)         the defendant taking steps to avoid being taken into, or escape from, lawful custody; or

                  (iii)         the defendant resisting another who is exercising a power in the course of his or her official duties or functions.

        (5)         In proceedings for an offence against subsection (1), the prosecution need not prove that the defendant knew that his or her act would cause death or serious harm to the working animal, or to a particular working animal.

        (6)         This section is in addition to, and does not derogate from, the Animal Welfare Act 1985 .



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