In New Zealand it would appear that an animal cannot be defended. You can defend a person or personal property ( if you own an animal this is not included as personal property ) but you cannot defend your pet.
If someone tries to hurt your animal and you defend it then legally you have no defence. Instead you will be charged for assault and the person that assaulted your animal gets away with it.
We dont believe this is right. We believe animals should have the right to be recognised.
This has actually happened here in New Zealand. We are trying to raise as many signatures as we can to help to amend this law as people should not be allowed to harm animals and get away with it on a technicality.