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WELFARE OF ANIMALS ACT (NORTHERN IRELAND) 1972 - SECT 16

Powers of veterinary inspectors.

16.(1) Where any animal examined in the course of import into or export from
Northern Ireland appears to a veterinary inspector to be in such a physical
condition that it would be cruel to keep it alive, the veterinary inspector
may require the owner or person having charge of the animal forthwith to have
it destroyed as humanely as possible.

(2) Where it is not reasonably practicable for a veterinary inspector to
require the owner or person having charge of the animal to have it destroyed
forthwith, or where that person does not comply with a requirement under
subsection (1), the veterinary inspector shall cause or procure the animal to
be destroyed as humanely as possible.

(3) Where the carcase of an animal destroyed under this section is not removed
by or on behalf of the owner within a reasonable time, a veterinary inspector
may, having regard to the condition of the carcase and any other
circumstances, cause or procure it to be buried, sold or otherwise disposed of
in such manner as he thinks fit.

(4) Where a carcase is sold under subsection (3) and the proceeds of the sale
equal or exceed the expenses incurred under subsections (2) and (3),
the Ministry shall retain the amount of those expenses and shall pay the
excess, if any, to the owner; and where those expenses exceed the proceeds of
the sale, the owner shall be liable to pay the excess to the Ministry.

(5) Any expenses incurred by a veterinary inspector in the exercise of his
powers under subsections (2) and (3), less any amount retained by or paid to
the Ministry under subsection (4), may be recovered summarily as a civil debt
by the Ministry from the owner of the animal.

(6) No action shall lie against a veterinary inspector in respect of anything
done by him or at his request in the exercise of his functions under this
section.

(7) In this section, "veterinary inspector" means a veterinary surgeon
appointed by the Ministry to be an inspector.

© 1972 Crown Copyright

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