[1] The Act prohibits inflicting unjustified pain, suffering, injury, or fear on an animal, though there are exemptions for hunting and fishing.
[11] The campaign continued after the government released a proposal for a new animal welfare law, which only provided for compliance with new European Union regulations on cages rather than banning them altogether, in early 2004.
Street demonstrations were held, and a media and letter-writing campaign against the Conservatives - who largely opposed stricter animal laws - commenced.
After continuing pressure from activists and the public, Austrian Parliament voted unanimously in favor of a ban on battery farming effective January 1, 2009.
[11] During the campaign, Austrian animal rights leader Martin Balluch had been convicted of unlawful removal of property for his open rescue of battery farmed chickens.
The Court argued that Balluch's actions were justified since the new law characterizes battery farming as cruelty and society agrees with the liberation of the chickens raised in cruel conditions.
[14] VGT played a large role in the 2004 campaign against battery farming, the passage of Austria's Animal Welfare Law, as well as a campaign to convince Austrian stores not to sell battery eggs, a ban on using apes in experiments, the Austrian ban on fur farming, among other animal rights victories.
ACA focuses on adoption, medical care, castration, and sanctuary for companion and stray animals in Austria and several other countries.