All animals need to be cared for and treated with respect at all times as they are sentient living things. Everyone has a legal obligation to provide  animals in their care with all of their needs – food and water, shelter, the opportunity to behave normally, to be handled carefully by people,  and to ensure/maintain their good health.

These legal requirements exist to protect the animals with whom we interact. This includes making sure that our pets are treated well, that farm animals are taken care of and that our native species are not exploited. In New Zealand the use of animals in research, testing and teaching is controlled by the Animal Welfare Act 1999. This legislation is designed to protect animals in New Zealand from harmful or inhumane treatment. It covers our obligations to care for animals, the people who can conduct surgical procedures on animals, animal exports, humane treatment of wild animals, and codes of welfare.

The Three Rs

The Three Rs are important animal welfare principles that guide the way we interact with animals. ANZCCART promotes and encourages the implementation of these principles when interacting with animals. These three principles are:

Replacement

Avoiding or replacing the use of animals in areas where they otherwise would have been used.

Reduction

Minimising the number of animals used, consistent with scientific aims.

Refinement

Minimising the pain, suffering, distress or lasting harm that research animals might experience.