Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (2011 Chapter 16).

This Act makes provision with respect to the welfare of vertebrate animals in Northern Ireland. Animals are protected by this Act if they are of a kind which is commonly domesticated in Northern Ireland or if they are under the control of man or not living in a wild state. The Act, among other things: defines responsibilities of owners and persons in charge of an animal; defines unnecessary suffering inflicted on an animal as an offence; prohibits procedures which involve interference with the sensitive tissues or bone structure of the animal, for example castration, ear tagging and dehorning; restricts the use of poisons; promotes the welfare of animals; provides for the introduction of codes of practice for both farmed animals and other animals; provides for powers of enforcement of inspectors.