New South Wales Consolidated Acts

COMPANION ANIMALS ACT 1998 - SECT 27

27 Liability for injury to animal

(1) The owner of a dog is liable in damages in respect of injury (whether or not fatal) to another animal (whether or not a dog, but other than vermin) caused by the dog attacking or chasing it.

(2) This section does not apply in respect of:

(a) a dog attacking or chasing another animal on any property or vehicle of which the owner of the dog is an occupier or on which the dog is ordinarily kept, but only if the dog is not a dangerous dog under this Act at the time of the incident, or

(b) a dog attacking or chasing another animal in the course of droving, tending, working or protecting stock, or

(c) a dog attacking or chasing another animal where the attacking or chasing is in immediate response to, and is wholly induced by, intentional provocation of the dog by a person other than the owner of the dog or the owner’s employees or agents, or

(d) a dog attacking or causing injury to another animal, where its doing so is in immediate response to, and is wholly induced by, an attack on the dog made by the other animal.

(3) This section does not affect the liability apart from this section of any person for damage caused by a dog.