DOG NUISANCE ORDNANCE. [Came into operation July 17, 1844.]

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume I, Issue 7, 23 November 1844, Page 4

DOG NUISANCE ORDNANCE. [Came into operation July 17, 1844.]

Preamble. — Whereas the number of dogs found wandering at large within or about the various towns of New Zealand is so great as to be a public nuisance, and it is expedient to provide a summary mode of abating the same : be it therefore enacted by the Governor of New Zealand, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows : — 1 . Dogs found at large may be seized. — All dogs found wandering at large without their owner or keeper, in or about any town in New Zealand, may be seized by any constable lawfully acting in or about any such town. 2. Dogs so seized to be kept a Night and a Day, and, if claimed, delivered to Owner on payment of Fine. — All dogs so seized shall be kept exposed to view in some public place to be appropriated for that purpose, and situated within such town, and shall be so kept, if not claimed, for the space of at least one night and one whole day. If within the said night and day any person shall claim any such dog, the constable, upon being satisfied that the person so claiming the dog is the true owner or the agent of the true owner thereof, shall deliver such dog to the person so claiming the same, upon payment of the sum of five shillings : provided always, that if such dog shall have a collar, with the name of the owner legibly engraved thereon, the same shall be restored to the person claiming the same on payment of the sura of two shillings and sixpence. 3. Dogs not claimed to be destroyed. — If within the said night and day no such claim and payment as aforesaid shall have been [ made in respect of any dog so kept as aforesaid, the person having the custody of such dog shall forthwith destroy the same by hanging. 4. A Note of the Description, fyc, of all Dogs seized to be kept. — Where any dog shall be so seized as aforesaid, the constable seizing ! the same shall make and keep a note- in writing in a book, of the description of the dog so seized, and of the time of the seizure thereof, and whether the dog shall have been so delivered up or destroyed as aforesaid, a copy of which note shall, as soon as conveniently may be after the dog shall have been disposed of in manner hereinbefore mentioned, be delivered by the constable making the same to the office of the police magistrate of the district. 5. Fines to be paid over by Constable to Police Magistrate, — All moneys received by any constable in respect of any dog seized under the authority hereof, after deducting therefrom the sum of sixpence for the keep of every dog so seized within the week preceding, together with the sum of two shillings in respect of such dog so delivered to the owner thereof as aforesaid, as a compensation for the trouble of such constable in respect thereof, shall be accounted for and paid over weekly to the police magistrate of the district. 6. And by Aim paid over to Treasurer. — All moneys received by any police magistrate under the authority of this ordinance, shall be accounted for and paid over monthly to the< Colonial Treasurer or treasurer of the county or district (as the case may be), to the use of her Majesty, her heirs and successors, 1 for the' public uses of the colony, and the support of the Government thereof. 7. Explanatory. — The keeper of any dog shall be held to be the person in whose care such dog may temporarily be, whether loose or confined : and the agent of any owner of a dog shall be understood to be any person authorized by the said owner or keeper to apply for the release of the dog.