Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules

Animals and Birds Act

(CHAPTER 7, Sections 59 and 80)

R 1

G.N. No. S 413/2007

REVISED EDITION 2007

(1st October 2007)

[1st September 2007]

Citation

1. These Rules may be cited as the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules.

Definitions

2. In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires —

“animal infirmary” means any veterinary centre licensed under section 54 of the Act, or any premises designated by the Director-General to be used for the keeping or treatment of animals;

“dog farm” means a farm licensed under the Animals and Birds (Licensing of Farms) Rules (R 3) and which is used for the breeding of dogs;

“licence” means a licence issued by the Director-General under rule 4(2)(a);

“licence fee” means the fee referred to in rule 5;

“microchip” means a microchip that conforms with the ISO standards of the International Organization for Standardization.

Requirement for licence and approval

3.—(1) No person shall own or keep a dog that is over 3 months of age unless that person has taken out a licence in respect of the dog.

(2) No person shall keep more than 3 dogs in any premises (not being a dog farm) without the prior permission of the Director-General.

(3) The Director-General may grant permission under paragraph (2) for the keeping of more than 3 dogs in any premises (not being a dog farm), subject to —

(a)	the imposition of additional conditions of the licence; and
(b)	the payment of the appropriate licence fee.

Application for and issue of licence, etc.

4.—(1) An application for a licence in respect of a dog shall be made to the Director-General in such form or manner as the Director-General may require, and shall be accompanied by —

(a)	the appropriate licence fee;
(b)	such particulars, information and documents as may be specified by the Director-General; and
(c)	proof that the dog has been implanted with a microchip.

(2) On receipt of an application under paragraph (1), the Director-General may —

(a)	issue a licence to the applicant subject to such conditions as he thinks fit to impose; or
(b)	refuse to issue a licence to the applicant.

(3) Where the Director-General refuses to issue a licence under paragraph (2)(b), he shall, if requested to do so by the applicant, state in writing the reasons for his refusal.

(4) Every licence shall be valid for one year from the date of its issue and shall not be transferable.

(5) The Director-General may, at any time, vary or revoke any of the existing conditions of the licence or impose new conditions.

(6) Every licensee shall, except where he has informed the Director-General of the loss or death of his dog or his ceasing to keep the dog under paragraph (7), renew his licence before its expiry —

(a)	by paying to the Director-General the appropriate licence fee; and
(b)	by providing to the Director-General such particulars, information and documents as may be specified by the Director-General.

(7) Every licensee shall inform the Director-General and produce documentary proof —

(a)	of the loss or death of his dog within 28 days of such loss or death; or
(b)	that he is no longer keeping his dog within 28 days of his ceasing to keep the dog.

(8) Where a licensee does not renew the licence for his dog before its expiry, he shall apply for a new licence in accordance with paragraph (1).

Licence fee

5.—(1) The fee payable for the issue or the renewal of a licence (other than in relation to a dog farm) shall be as specified in Part I of the First Schedule.

(2) The fee payable for the issue or the renewal of a licence in relation to a dog farm shall be as specified in Part II of the First Schedule.

(3) Any fee paid for or in respect of any licence under these Rules shall not be refundable.

(4) The Director-General may, as he thinks fit, waive the whole or any part of the licence fee payable under these Rules.

Amendment of licence for dog farm

6.—(1) Where a licence has been issued in respect of the dogs in a dog farm, the licensee shall inform the Director-General of any change in the particulars pertaining to the dogs (other than the address at which the dogs are to be kept), as specified in the licence or the conditions thereof, within 14 days of the occurrence of the change.

(2) After considering the change referred to in paragraph (1) and any additional information the Director-General requests from and is provided by the licensee, the Director-General may vary the licence, subject to the imposition of additional conditions on the licence.

(3) Where the number of dogs kept in a dog farm exceeds the maximum number of dogs permitted by the licence issued in relation to the dog farm, the licensee shall apply to the Director-General to vary the licence within 14 days of the occurrence of the change.

(4) After considering an application for a variation of a licence in relation to a dog farm and any additional information the Director-General requests from and is provided by the licensee, the Director-General may vary the licence, subject to the payment of an additional fee by the licensee which shall be the amount which is —

(a)	the difference between the licence fee paid for the licence to be varied and the licence fee which would have been payable if a licence is issued in relation to that dog farm with the increased number of dogs; and
(b)	adjusted pro-rata according to the proportion the remaining validity period (rounded to the nearest month) of the licence bears to the total validity period of that licence.

Change of address, etc.

7.—(1) No licensee shall keep a dog in respect of which the licence is issued, or cause or permit that dog to be kept, at an address other than the address stated in the licence without the prior approval of the Director-General.

(2) Where a dog is to be kept at an address other than the address stated in the licence, the licensee shall apply, in writing, to the Director-General for approval of the change of address at which the dog is to be kept.

(3) Where the Director-General refuses to approve the change under paragraph (2), he shall, if requested to do so by the licensee, state in writing the reasons for his refusal.

(4) Every licensee shall inform the Director-General in writing of any change in his address as stated in his licence within 28 days of such change.

Licensee of specified dog to comply with certain requirements, etc.

8.—(1) Where a licensee owns or keeps any of the breeds of dogs specified in Part I of the Second Schedule (referred to in this rule as a specified dog), he shall comply with the following requirements:

(a)

the dog shall be implanted with a microchip;

(b)

the dog, if over 6 months of age, shall be sterilised;

(c)

the licensee shall have in force a policy of insurance approved by the Director-General for an amount of not less than $100,000 to cover any injury to persons or animals or damage to property that might be caused by the dog; and

(d)

the licensee shall furnish to the Director-General security in the form of a banker’s guarantee for $5,000, which shall be forfeited if —

(i)	the licensee allows the dog to be in a public place otherwise than on a leash and securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent it from biting a person; or
(ii)	the dog is reported lost.

(2) The Director-General may, in his discretion, give a direction to any licensee who owns or keeps any dog that is not a specified dog to comply with all or any of the requirements specified in paragraph (1).

(3) Any licensee who is given a direction by the Director-General under paragraph (2) shall comply with the direction.

Dog at large

9.—(1) A dog (whether or not licensed) may be seized, impounded, destroyed or otherwise dealt with in such a manner as the Director-General thinks fit if it is found —

(a)	at large;
(b)	in a public place otherwise than on a leash; or
(c)	in a public place without being securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent the dog from biting a person, where it is of any of the breeds specified in the Second Schedule or where the Director-General has required the dog to be fitted with a muzzle as a condition of licence.

(2) The owner of any dog that is found under any situation referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b) or (c) shall be guilty of an offence and shall —

(a)	in the case of a situation referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or (b), be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and
(b)	in the case of a situation referred to in paragraph (1)(c), be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 and, in the case of a second or subsequent conviction, to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Treatment

10.—(1) Any dog that is found to be, or suspected to be, suffering from any injury or is in poor physical condition —

(a)

may be impounded and taken to an animal infirmary; and

(b)

may be —

(i)	treated in the animal infirmary until cured and released to the owner after treatment; or
(ii)	destroyed at once, or at any time whilst under treatment in the animal infirmary.

(2) A dog may be impounded at any animal infirmary or police station and detained therein pending instructions from the Director-General if —

(a)	it is suffering from any injury or is in poor physical condition; and
(b)	its owner is not known or cannot after reasonable efforts be found.

Notice to produce dog for examination

11.—(1) The Director-General may, at any time, give a direction to the owner of a dog to produce the dog for examination or observation at an animal infirmary within 7 days of the date of the notice.

(2) Any owner of a dog who is given a direction by the Director-General under paragraph (1) shall comply with the direction.

(3) Any dog presented for examination or observation at an animal infirmary may be —

(a)	released;
(b)	treated until cured; or
(c)	destroyed at the discretion of the Director-General, if the veterinary surgeon attending to the dog considers the condition of the dog to be incurable or that the keeping of the dog entails suffering amounting to cruelty to the dog.

(4) Where the owner of a dog contravenes paragraph (2), the Director-General may impound the dog, treat it and release it to the owner or dispose of it in any manner he thinks fit.

Release of impounded dog

12.—(1) Any dog that has been seized or impounded under these Rules may, at the discretion of the Director-General, be released to its owner.

(2) The Director-General may notify the owner by writing to his last known address to claim any dog seized or impounded under these Rules.

(3) If the owner of any dog that has been seized or impounded under these Rules fails to claim the dog within 14 days of the notice referred to in paragraph (2), the Director-General may dispose of the dog as he thinks fit.

(4) The owner of any dog seized or impounded under these Rules shall be liable to pay all expenses for the treatment, feeding and caring of the dog, and any other expenses incurred by the Director-General before the dog is released to the owner under paragraph (1).

Removal of stray dogs from premises

13.—(1) The Director-General may give a direction to the owner of any premises —

(a)	to remove any stray dog found in the premises; and
(b)	to take such measures as may be necessary to prevent any stray dog from entering, or having shelter or breeding in, the premises.

(2) Any owner of any premises who is given a direction by the Director-General under paragraph (1) shall comply with the direction.

(3) In this rule, unless the context otherwise requires —

“owner”, has the same meaning as in section 2(1) of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act (Act 47 of 2004), and includes any person for the time being in occupation of any premises;

“premises” does not include any housing estate built on any land vested in or held in trust for the Housing and Development Board established under the Housing and Development Act (Cap. 129).

Revocation of licence

14.—(1) Where a licence has been revoked under section 62 of the Act, the licensee in respect of a dog shall, within 7 days of the revocation of the licence —

(a)	surrender the dog to the Director-General; or
(b)	with the prior approval in writing of the Director-General, transfer the ownership and custody of the dog to another person.

(2) Where a person whose licence has been revoked fails to comply with paragraph (1), the Director-General may impound the dog and dispose of it in any manner he thinks fit.

Dog badge

15.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the holder of a licence issued under the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules (R 1, 1994 Ed.) in force immediately before 1st September 2007 shall, whilst the licence remains in force (including any term of renewal under these Rules), cause the badge referred to in rule 6 of those Rules to be securely attached by means of a collar to the neck of the dog in respect of which the licence was issued.

(2) The holder of a licence in respect of a dog need not comply with paragraph (1) if the dog has been implanted with a microchip.

(3) Where the badge is lost, the Director-General may issue a replacement badge to the licensee on production of his licence and on payment of the fee as specified in Part I of the First Schedule.

Offences

16. Any person who contravenes rule 3(1) or (2), 4(7), 6(1), 7(1) or (4), 8(1) or (3), 11(2), 13(2), 14(1) or 15(1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.

Transitional and savings provisions

17.—(1) Notwithstanding the revocation of the Animals and Birds (Dog Licensing and Control) Rules (R 1, 1994 Ed.) and subject to paragraphs (2) and (3) —

(a)	any licence for a dog issued under the revoked Rules and which remains valid immediately before 1st September 2007; and
(b)	any licence for a dog issued on or after 1st September 2007 in respect of which the application for the issue or renewal of the licence is made before that date,

shall, unless revoked, and in so far as it is not inconsistent with these Rules —

(i)	continue and be deemed to be a licence issued under these Rules;
(ii)	be subject to the terms and conditions specified in the licence; and
(iii)	expire on, and be renewable before, the date it would have expired as if these Rules had not been made.

(2) Where a person holds a licence for a dog that is of a breed specified in item 5, 6 or 7 in Part I of the Second Schedule to these Rules, or any crosses thereof, which remains valid immediately before 1st September 2007, then unless the licence is revoked, he need not comply with the requirements in rule 8(1) of these Rules until the licence expires.

(3) Where a person holds a licence for a dog (not being of a breed specified in items 1 to 4 in Part I of the Second Schedule to these Rules, or any crosses thereof) which remains valid immediately before 1st September 2007, he need not comply with the requirement in rule 4(1)(c) of these Rules that the dog be implanted with a microchip if, and only if, the licence remains in force or is renewed under these Rules.

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