Source: Hearts of Pets

“The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill states that animals can experience including pain and distress…”

photo by Terry Fitch of Wild Horse Freedom Federation

New Zealand has recently changed its law regarding animals.  For a long time, animals have been regarded as nothing more than property. The new law has changed to have them treated as sentient beings with feelings.

The Animal Welfare Amendment Bill states that animals can experience including pain and distress, and should be treated as sentient creatures. Because animals that have been neglected abused, or have separation anxiety, all react in human-like ways.

The hope is that the changes will add more weight to animal abuse cases and see that the perpetrators of these crimes face heavier punishments.  It is hoped that this law will not only to deter people from doing so, but to provide restitution to those animals that have had to suffer.