The Canberra Times reports that anyone found confining a dog for longer than 24 hours would have to provide two hours of exercise or pay a fine of up to $4,000 under changes that enshrine animal feelings into ACT law.
In a major overhaul of the current legislation, a person will be allowed to break into a car to save a suffering animal where the action is deemed reasonable.
According to the Canberra Times, The toughest penalties under the legislation are reserved for people involved in violent animal activity such as cockfighting or dogfighting, hunting competitions or live baiting.
Anyone who takes part will be fined $48,000 and face three years in prison. Anyone who attends these events will also face a $16,000 fine and a year's imprisonment.
ABC News says that under the proposed laws the ACT would become the first jurisdiction in the country to recognise animals as "sentient beings" — the idea that animals are able to feel and perceive the world.
Source: The Canberra Times, abc.net.au
