Stray Dogs

The Dogs Act, 1906, has some important sections dealing with seizure

of stray dogs, and enacts that where a police officer has reason to

believe that any dog found in a highway or place of public resort is a

stray dog, he may seize and retain it until the owner has claimed it

and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention. If the dog

so seized wears a collar on which is the address of any person, or if

the o ner of the dog is known, then the chief officer of police or

some person authorised by him in that behalf shall serve on either

such person a notice in writing stating that the dog has been seized,

and will be sold or destroyed if not claimed within seven clear days

of the service of the notice.



Failing the owner putting in an appearance and paying all expenses of

detention within the seven clear days, then the chief officer of

police or any person authorised by him may cause the dog to be sold,

or destroyed in a manner to cause as little pain as possible. The

police must keep a proper register of all dogs seized, and every such

register shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by any

member of the public on payment of a fee of one shilling, and the

police may transfer such dog to any establishment for the reception of

stray dogs, but only if there is a proper register kept at such

establishment open to inspection by the public on payment of a fee not

exceeding one shilling.



Another section enacts that any person who takes possession of a stray

dog shall forthwith either return the dog to its owner or give notice

in writing to the chief officer of police of the district where the

dog was found, containing a description of the dog and stating the

place where the dog was found, and the place where he is being

detained, and any person failing to comply with the provisions of this

section shall be liable on conviction under the Summary Jurisdiction

Acts to a fine not exceeding forty shillings.