PART III

Provisions with regard to Dogs

Ownership of stray dog.

17. —(1) Where a stray dog whereof possession has been taken by any person has been detained by such person for a period of a year after notice in writing has been given by him in accordance with section 4 of the Dogs Act, 1906, to the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána of the district where the dog was found, and the dog has not been claimed by its owner during the said period such person shall become the owner of the dog and the title of the former owner shall be extinguished.

(2) Subsection (1) shall not apply if at any time during the said period of a year such person has ascertained who is the owner of the dog.

Disqualification of persons convicted of cruelty to dogs.

18. —(1) Any Court before which a person is convicted under the Principal Act of an offence of cruelty to a dog may, in addition to any other penalty, order him to be disqualified from keeping a dog for such period as the Court thinks fit.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in any enactment, where a person is so convicted and disqualified the Court may make such order as it thinks fit for the humane disposal or destruction of any dog kept by such person, and may order that the expense incurred in the humane disposal or destruction of a dog under this section, including the expense of any veterinary surgeon, shall be paid by the owner thereof in addition to any other penalty which the Court may impose, and in default of such payment that such owner shall be imprisoned for a term of imprisonment not exceeding one month.

(3) If any person who is disqualified by virtue of an order under this section keeps a dog while he is disqualified, he shall be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five pounds or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment.

Control of greyhounds.

19. —(1) A person shall not exercise or lead or cause or permit to be exercised or led or cause or permit to be at large a greyhound in any public road, open park, beach or other place to which the public customarily resort, unless such greyhound is under control.

(2) A greyhound shall not be deemed for the purpose of subsection (1) of this section to be under control unless it is being led by means of a sufficiently strong chain or leash.

(3) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

Restriction on number of greyhounds which may be exercised or led.

20. —(1) A person shall not exercise or lead or cause or permit to be exercised or led by any one person more than four greyhounds at a time in any public road, open park, beach or other place to which the public customarily resort.

(2) Any person who contravenes any of the foregoing provisions of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this section.

Penalties under sections 19 or 20.

21. —Any person guilty of an offence under sections 19 or 20 shall be liable on summary conviction—

(a) for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding five pounds,

(b) for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding twenty pounds or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding one month or to both such fine and such imprisonment.