Provision as to dogs

Provision as to dogs. (1) A Council may be public notice require that every dog while in the street and not being led by some person shall be muzzled in such a way as to allow the dog freely to breathe and to drink, while effectually preventing it from biting. (2) When a notice under sub-section (1) has been issued, the Chief Officer may take possession of any dog found wandering unmuzzled in any public street or place and may either detain such dog until its owner has within three clear days claimed it, provided a proper muzzle for it and paid all the expenses of its detention or may, subject to the provisions of sub-sections (3) and (4), cause it to be sold or destroyed. (3) When a dog which has been detained under sub-section (2) is wearing a collar with the owner's name and address thereon, or a number ticket or any other mark by which the owner of the dog can be identified, such dog shall not be destroyed until a letter stating the fact that it has been so detained has been sent to the said address and the dog has remained unclaimed for three clear days. (4) Any dog which is not claimed within the period specified in sub-section (3), or any dog the owner of which has failed to comply with the provision of sub-section (2) within the specified period therein, may be sold or destroyed by the Chief Officer after having been detained for the period of three days specified in sub-section (3): Provided that any dog which is found to be rabid may be destroyed at any time. (5) The Chief Officer may at any time destroy, or cause to be destroyed, or confine or cause to be confined, for such period as he may consider necessary, or cause to be treated by any other efficacious and medically well established method of treatment, any dog or other animal suffering from rabies or reasonably suspected to be suffering from rabies or bitten by any dog or other animal suffering or suspected as aforesaid. (6) All expenses incurred by the Chief Officer under this section may be recovered from the owner of any dog which has been taken possession of or detained in the same manner as an amount due on account of a property tax. (7) No damages shall be payable in respect of any dog destroyed or otherwise disposed of under this section.