COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 23
Disqualification from owning or being in charge of dog
COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 23
Disqualification from owning or being in charge of dog
23 Disqualification from owning or being in charge of dog
(1) A person who is convicted of any of the following offences is permanently
disqualified from owning a dog or from being in charge of a dog in a
public place--
(2) A court that convicts a person of an offence
under any of the following provisions of this Act can order that the person is
disqualified from owning a dog, or from being in charge of a dog in a
public place, for a specified period--
(a) section 15 (Certain breeds of dogs
to be muzzled),
(h) any other provision prescribed by the regulations as a provision to which
this subsection applies.
(3) A court that convicts a person of more than one
offence under any of the following provisions of this Act during any 5 year
period can, on the second or subsequent conviction during that period, order
that the person is disqualified from owning a dog, or from being in charge of
a dog in a public place, for a specified period--
(b) any other provision prescribed by the regulations as a provision
to which this subsection applies.
(4) The maximum period of disqualification
that a court can order under this section is 5 years. An order under this
section is in addition to any penalty that the court can impose for an
offence.
(5) The making of an order by a court under section 10 of the
Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 in respect of a person charged with an
offence is to be treated for the purposes of this section as a conviction of
the person for the offence.
(6) A person who is the owner of a dog, or who is
in charge of a dog, in contravention of a disqualification or order under this
section is guilty of an offence.