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Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011

2011 nia 16 · Enacted 29 March 2011 · Extends to Northern Ireland

Up to date with all changes known to legislation.gov.uk, revised to 1 January 2024.

An Act to make provision about animal welfare.

[29th March 2011]

BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by Her Majesty as follows:

Contents

  1. Part 1: INTRODUCTORY
  2. 1Animals to which this Act applies
  3. 2Protected animals
  4. 3Responsibility for animals
  5. Part 2: PROTECTION OF ANIMALS
  6. Prevention of harm
  7. 4Unnecessary suffering
  8. 5Prohibited procedures
  9. 6Docking of dogs' tails
  10. 7Administration of poisons, etc.
  11. 8Fighting etc.
  12. Promotion of welfare
  13. 9Ensuring welfare of animals
  14. 10Improvement notices
  15. 11Regulations for securing welfare of animals
  16. 12Licensing or registration of activities involving animals
  17. 13Prohibition on keeping certain animals
  18. 14Abandonment
  19. 15Transfer of animals by way of sale or prize to persons under 16
  20. 16Codes of practice
  21. Part 3: ANIMALS IN DISTRESS
  22. 17Powers in relation to animals in distress
  23. 18Power of entry for section 17 purposes
  24. 19Orders in relation to animals taken under section 17(5)
  25. 20Orders under section 19: appeals
  26. Part 4: ENFORCEMENT
  27. Enforcement powers
  28. 21Seizure of animals involved in fighting offences
  29. 22Entry and search under warrant in connection with offences
  30. 23Inspection of records required to be kept by holder of licence
  31. 24Inspection in connection with licences
  32. 25Inspection in connection with registration
  33. 26Inspection of premises to check compliance with regulations made under section 13
  34. 27Inspection of farm premises
  35. 28Inspection relating to assimilated law or Protocol obligations
  36. Prosecutions
  37. 29Power of councils to prosecute offences
  38. 30Time limits for prosecutions
  39. Post-conviction powers
  40. 31Penalties
  41. 32Deprivation
  42. 33Disqualification
  43. 34Seizure of animals in connection with disqualification
  44. 35Section 34: supplementary
  45. 36Destruction in the interests of an animal
  46. 37Destruction of animals involved in fighting offences
  47. 38Reimbursement of expenses relating to animals involved in fighting offences
  48. 39Forfeiture of equipment used in offences
  49. 40Orders under section 32, 34, 36, 37 or 39: pending appeals
  50. 41Orders with respect to licences
  51. 42Termination of disqualification under section 33 or 41
  52. 43Orders made on conviction for reimbursement of expenses
  53. 44Orders for reimbursement of expenses: right of appeal for non-offenders
  54. Part 5: GENERAL
  55. 45Inspectors
  56. 46Conditions for grant of warrant
  57. 47Powers of entry, inspection and search: supplementary
  58. 48Power to stop and detain vehicles
  59. 49Power to detain vessels, etc.
  60. 50Obtaining of documents in connection with carrying out orders, etc.
  61. 51Offences by bodies corporate
  62. 51AService animals
  63. 52Scientific research
  64. 53Hunting, coursing and fishing
  65. 54Application to the Crown
  66. Part 6: SUPPLEMENTARY
  67. 55Orders and regulations
  68. 56Interpretation
  69. 57Minor and consequential amendments and repeals
  70. 58Transitional provision
  71. 59Commencement
  72. 60Short title
  73. Schedule 1: DOGS SPECIFIED FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 6(7)
  74. 1Paragraph 1
  75. 2Paragraph 2
  76. 3Paragraph 3
  77. 4Paragraph 4
  78. 5Paragraph 5
  79. Schedule 2: REGULATIONS UNDER SECTION 12
  80. Part 1: LICENCES FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 12
  81. Introductory
  82. 1Paragraph 1
  83. Licensing authority
  84. 2Paragraph 2
  85. 3Paragraph 3
  86. Period of licence
  87. 4Paragraph 4
  88. 5Paragraph 5
  89. Exercise of licensing functions
  90. 6Paragraph 6
  91. 7Paragraph 7
  92. Grant of licence subject to conditions
  93. 8Paragraph 8
  94. Breach of licence condition
  95. 9Paragraph 9
  96. Appeals
  97. 10Paragraph 10
  98. Fees
  99. 11Paragraph 11
  100. Part 2: REGISTRATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 12
  101. Introductory
  102. 12Paragraph 12
  103. Registering authority
  104. 13Paragraph 13
  105. 14Paragraph 14
  106. Exercise of registration functions
  107. 15Paragraph 15
  108. Appeals
  109. 16Paragraph 16
  110. Fees
  111. 17Paragraph 17
  112. Part 3: SUPPLEMENTARY
  113. 18Paragraph 18
  114. 19Paragraph 19
  115. Schedule 3: POWERS OF ENTRY, INSPECTION AND SEARCH: SUPPLEMENTARY
  116. Safeguards etc. in connection with powers of entry conferred by warrant
  117. 1Paragraph 1
  118. 2Paragraph 2
  119. 3Paragraph 3
  120. 4Paragraph 4
  121. Duty to produce evidence of identity
  122. 5Paragraph 5
  123. Power to take persons onto premises
  124. 6Paragraph 6
  125. Duty to exercise power of entry at reasonable time
  126. 7Paragraph 7
  127. Power to require assistance
  128. 8Paragraph 8
  129. Power to take equipment onto premises
  130. 9Paragraph 9
  131. Duty to leave premises secured
  132. 10Paragraph 10
  133. Functions in connection with inspection and search
  134. 11Paragraph 11
  135. 12Paragraph 12
  136. 13Paragraph 13
  137. 14Paragraph 14
  138. 15Paragraph 15
  139. Functions in connection with entry under section 18
  140. 16Paragraph 16
  141. Offences
  142. 17Paragraph 17
  143. Schedule 4: MINOR AND CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS
  144. The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (NI 8)
  145. 1Paragraph 1
  146. 2Paragraph 2
  147. The Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (c. 14)
  148. 3Paragraph 3
  149. The Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Northern Ireland) Order 1994 (NI 6)
  150. 4Paragraph 4
  151. The Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004 (NI 16)
  152. 5Paragraph 5
  153. 6Paragraph 6
  154. Schedule 5REPEALS