Bill: Proposed Animal Welfare and Protection Act

[SimplyMadi]

Author: Regyna Allen MP
Type: Act of Parliament

A​

BILL​

TO​

Establish a structured licensing system for animal and mob captivity, introduce care standards, address abuse and abandonment, and empower the Ministry of Agriculture and Wildlife to declare species as protected or endangered.
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Preamble:
With the growth of agricultural industries, wildlife interactions, and exotic mob keeping in the Azalea Isles, a clear legal framework is needed to ensure the ethical treatment, housing, and protection of animals and mobs. This bill establishes captivity licensing classes, animal care standards, and mechanisms to combat abuse and abandonment. It also empowers the Ministry of Agriculture and Wildlife (MAW) to protect species deemed at risk and regulate animal welfare throughout the Isles.

1 - Licensing System for Animal and Mob Captivity​

(a) The Ministry of Agriculture and Wildlife (MAW) shall create and administer three classes of captivity licenses:
(i) Tier 1 License – Basic mobs and passive animals deemed low-risk.
(ii) Tier 2 License – More exotic or larger mobs and animals requiring special handling.
(iii) Tier 3 License – Dangerous, rare, or protected mobs and animals requiring strict oversight.
(b) The Ministry of Agriculture and Wildlife shall maintain an official registry of species classifications, designating which animals or mobs fall under each license tier.
(i) This registry must be publicly accessible and updated regularly as new species are discovered or existing species require reclassification.
(ii) The Ministry has full discretion to update the registry without requiring a legislative amendment, provided changes are publicly displayed.
(c) Applications for licenses shall include:
(i) Species requested,
(ii) Description of facilities and care plans,
(iii) Justification or purpose for keeping the animal (e.g. farming, research, conservation, etc.).
(d) MAW may deny or revoke licenses upon breach of animal care standards or misrepresentation.
(e) Domestic and Livestock Species may be kept without a license unless otherwise designated by MAW. A separate public list of such species shall be maintained.

2 - Animal Care Standards​

(a) All animals and mobs in captivity must be provided with humane and appropriate living conditions. This includes:
(i) Minimum Space Requirements per individual animal, based on species classification:

• Domestic and Livestock Species: 2 blocks per individual
• Tier 1 Species: 5 blocks per individual
• Tier 2 Species: 9 blocks per individual
• Tier 3 Species: 16 blocks per individual

(ii) Shelter from environmental hazards such as rain, snow, wind, and extreme temperatures.
(iii) Secure enclosures designed to prevent escape or injury, appropriate to the animal’s risk level and abilities.
(b) Facilities must be designed to maintain cleanliness and reduce overcrowding.
(c) MAW may conduct inspections to verify compliance with these standards. Failure to comply may result in enforcement actions, including but not limited to: fines, animal seizure, or license suspension.

3 - Animal Abuse and Abandonment​

(a) Animal Abuse includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Deliberate harm, torture, or cruelty,
(ii) Use of animals in combat or violent displays without purpose or regulation,
(iii) Housing an animal in conditions that violate the care standards set in Section 2.
(b) Suspected abuse must be reported to MAW. Upon investigation, if deemed credible, cases will be referred to the Ministry of Justice for legal prosecution.
(c) Animal Abandonment includes, but is not limited to:
(i) Releasing an animal into the wild without authorization or consideration for its survival,
(ii) Leaving a tamed animal anywhere not owned by the keeper for more than 48 hours without explicit permission from the property owner,
(iii) Failing to reclaim an escaped or lost animal after receiving notice of its location.
(d) Abandoned animals may be collected and held by MAW or placed into a government-run shelter until claimed or rehomed.
(e) Individuals found to have abandoned an animal may be fined and temporarily suspended from applying for any animal licenses.

4 - Endangered and Protected Species Designation​

(a) MAW shall have the authority to designate any species or mob as Endangered or Protected, based on population levels, ecological role, or ongoing threats.
(b) Once designated:
(i) The species may only be kept in captivity under a valid Tier 3 License,
(ii) Public hunting, capture, or trade is prohibited unless explicitly authorized,
(iii) Special conservation or breeding programs may be launched under MAW supervision.

5 - Recordkeeping and Public Access​

(a) MAW shall maintain an internal Registry of Licenses, listing approved species and facilities.
(b) An internal registry shall also track enforcement actions, suspensions, and bans.

6 - Penalties for Non-Compliance​

(a) Individuals found in violation of this Act may face:
(i) Fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 through judicial cases,
(ii) Fines ranging from $100 to $750 at the discretion of the Ministry. This shall be based on severity.
(iii) Immediate seizure of animals and revocation of licenses,
(iv) Temporary or permanent bans from holding animal licenses.
(b) Repeat or extreme offenders may be referred to the Ministry of Justice for criminal charges.

Enactment: This Act comes into force one (1) week after passage.