DOGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1960

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DOGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1960 - SECT 1



1.(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, it shall be a defence to an
action to recover damages in respect of, and to any charge arising out of, the
shooting of a dog to prove

(a)that the dog was shot while worrying, or while making off after worrying,
any livestock; or

(b)that, after the worrying of any livestock, the dog was shot in
circumstances which afforded to the person shooting it reasonable ground for
the belief that it had done the worrying.

(2) Paragraph (b) of sub-section (1) shall not confer a defence upon any
person unless he proves that the dog was shot while it was on land whereon the
livestock which had been worried were kept or depastured or on any land
(including a highway or public path) contiguous thereto.

(3) This section shall apply if, but only if

(a)the action is taken or (as the case may be) the charge is brought against

(i)the owner or occupier of any such land as is mentioned in sub-section (2);
or

(ii)the owner of any livestock kept or depastured on any such land; or

<(iii)a member of the family of, or person in the employment of, any such owner or occupier of land or owner of livestock; [or]


[(iv)any person authorised (whether generally or in any particular instance)
by any such owner or occupier of land or owner of livestock to protect
livestock; and]

(b)the person against whom the action is taken or (as the case may be) the
charge is brought proves that within [twenty-four hours] after the dog was
shot notice of the shooting was given to the officer or constable in charge of
the Royal Ulster Constabulary station nearest to the place where it occurred.

(4) In this section

"action" includes a counterclaim;

"livestock" includes cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses or poultry, and for
the purposes of this definition "cattle" means bulls, bullocks, cows, heifers
or calves, "horses" includes donkeys and mules, and "poultry" means domestic
fowls, turkeys, geese or ducks;

["worrying livestock" means

(a)attacking or killing livestock; or

(b)chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause the
death of, or injury or suffering to, the livestock or to result in financial
loss to the owner of the livestock.]

S.2 rep. by 1976 NI 13 art.14 sch. S.3 rep. by SLR 1973

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Northern Irish Legislation

DOGS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1960 - SECT 1