The Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011

PART I GENERAL

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2011 and shall come into operation on 3rd October 2011.

Interpretation

2.  In these regulations—

“certificate of registration” means a certificate of registration issued by the Kennel Club, the Irish Coursing Club, the Masters of Foxhounds Association, the Masters of Harriers and Beagles Association, the Northern Ireland Master of Hounds Association, the International Sheep Dog Society or any other such organisation that the Department may specify by an order made under Article 8(1) of the Order;

“licensed” means kept under the authority of a dog licence or block licence;

“the Order” means the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983.

PART II LICENSING

Period of validity of a dog licence

3.—(1) A dog licence shall, unless suspended, remain in force for a period of one year.

(2) A block licence shall, unless suspended, remain in force for a period of one year.

Forms

4.—(1) An application for a dog licence shall be in the form set out in Schedule 1.

(2) A dog licence shall be in the form set out in Schedule 2.

(3) A transfer certificate shall be in the form set out in Schedule 3.

(4) An application for a refund of a dog licence shall be in the form set out in Schedule 4.

(5) An application for a block licence shall be in the form set out in Schedule 5 and shall be accompanied, where appropriate, by certificates of registration for dogs kept at premises in respect of which the block licence is sought.

(6) A block licence shall be in the form set out in Schedule 6.

Register of dog licences and block licences

5.—(1) The register of dog licences and block licences to be kept by district councils under Article 15(1) of the Order shall contain such particulars as are set out in Schedule 7.

(2) The register may be kept in manual or computerised form so long as the recording is capable of being reproduced in a legible form for inspection.

PART III IDENTIFICATION

Identification of the keeper

6.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the keeper of a dog in respect of which a licence is required under the Order or of a dog to which Article 5(a), (b) or (d) of the Order applies shall ensure that the dog wears a collar with the name and address of the keeper inscribed on it or on a plate or badge attached to it.

(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to the keeper of a dog—

(a) which is a member of a pack of hounds; or

(b) while that dog is being judged at a competition; or

(c) while that dog is being used for—

(i) any sporting purposes;

(ii) the capture or destruction of vermin;

(iii) the purpose of driving or tending sheep or cattle.

Licence identification

7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), the keeper of a dog which is required to be licensed shall ensure that the dog wears attached to its collar licence identification which shall relate to—

(a) the dog licence issued in respect of that dog (“the relevant dog licence”); or

(b) the block licence which is valid in relation to that dog (“the relevant block licence”).

(2) Licence identification shall be of metal or plastic not less than 1.00mm in thickness and shall be of the shape, dimensions and colour set out in Schedule 8 in relation to the period during which a dog licence or block licence is issued.

(3) Licence identification shall be issued to the licence holder by the district council for the district in which he resides and shall bear a symbol or mark which denotes the council by which it was issued.

(4) Licence identification shall not be attached to a dog other than—

(a) the dog in respect of which the relevant dog licence was issued; or

(b) a dog in relation to which the relevant block licence was issued; or

(c) the new dog where a licence transfer certification has been issued in accordance with the provisions of Article 6(4) of the Order.

(5) The provisions of paragraph (1) shall not apply to the keeper of a dog—

(a) which is a member of a pack of hounds; or

(b) while that dog is being judged at a competition; or

(c) while that dog is being used for—

(i) any sporting purposes;

(ii) the capture or destruction of vermin;

(iii) the purpose of driving or tending sheep or cattle.

Revocation

8.  The Dogs (Licensing and Identification) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1983(1) are revoked.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on 19^th July 2011.

C. McMaster

A senior officer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development