PART 3
CONTROL OF CATS AND DOGS
Definition of this Part
19.  In this Part, “owner”, in relation to a cat or dog, has the meaning given by section 41 of the Act and includes an owner of a cat or dog which is not a licensed animal.
Protection of cat or dog
20.  The owner of a cat or dog must take reasonable steps —
(a)to ensure that the cat or dog (as the case may be) is kept in a safe environment that minimises the risk of death or serious injury to the cat or dog (as the case may be);
(b)to prevent the cat or dog (as the case may be) from being in any place which exposes the cat or dog (as the case may be) to the risk of falling from height (whether from within the premises where it is kept by the owner or elsewhere); and
(c)to prevent the cat or dog (as the case may be) from leaving the premises where it is kept by the owner, except under the physical control of the owner or any individual permitted by the owner to have control of the cat or dog, as the case may be.
Bite cases
21.—(1)  If an individual makes a report to the Director‑General that he or she was bitten by a cat or dog, the Director‑General may require the individual to provide a medical report relating to his or her injury for the purposes of investigation.
(2)  If an individual makes a report to the Director‑General that an animal belonging to the individual, or under the individual’s charge or care, was bitten by a cat or dog, the Director‑General may require the individual to provide a veterinary report relating to the animal’s injury for the purposes of investigation.
(3)  The Director‑General or an authorised officer may, by written notice, direct the owner of any cat or dog that is reasonably believed to have bitten any individual or another animal to deliver to an authorised examiner at the time and place specified in the notice —
(a)the cat or dog, as the case may be; and
(b)the whole or any sample of any article or substance which has been in contact with that cat or dog.
(4)  The Director‑General may, having regard to all the circumstances of the case and the severity of the injury caused to any individual or animal as a result of being bitten by a cat or dog, direct the owner of the cat or dog involved —
(a)to secure the premises where the cat or dog (as the case may be) is kept by the owner, and prevent the cat or dog (as the case may be) from leaving the premises except under the physical control of the owner or any individual permitted by the owner to have control of the cat or dog (as the case may be); and
(b)in the case of a dog, to comply with all or any of the requirements specified in rule 9(2) or (3)(b).
(5)  The owner of a cat or dog who is given a direction under paragraph (3) or (4) must comply with that direction.
(6)  If the owner is given a direction under paragraph (4)(b) to provide to the Director‑General security under rule 9(2)(c) or (3)(b) in respect of a dog, the Director‑General may forfeit the security provided if —
(a)the owner contravenes any requirement in rule 9(1)(a) or (b)(ii); or
(b)the dog is reported as missing.
(7)  For the purposes of paragraphs (4)(b) and (6), a reference in rule 9(2) and (3) —
(a)to a licensee is a reference to the owner of the dog mentioned in paragraph (4); and
(b)to a specified dog is a reference to the dog mentioned in paragraph (4).
(8)  This rule applies to —
(a)cases of a cat bite occurring on or after 1 September 2024; and
(b)cases of a dog bite occurring before, on or after 1 September 2024.
Cat or dog at large, etc.
22.—(1)  A cat (whether or not licensed) may be seized, impounded, destroyed or otherwise dealt with in any manner that the Director‑General thinks fit if the cat —
(a)is found at large; or
(b)is found in a public place other than under the physical control of the individual in charge of the cat at the time.
(2)  A dog (whether or not licensed) may be seized, impounded, destroyed or otherwise dealt with in any manner that the Director‑General thinks fit if —
(a)the dog is found at large;
(b)the dog is found in a public place other than on a leash and under the control of the individual in charge of the dog at the time; or
(c)where the dog is —
(i)a specified dog; or
(ii)a dog (other than a specified dog) in respect of which the Director‑General has imposed a licence condition requiring the dog to be fitted with a muzzle when the dog is in a public place,
the dog is found in a public place without being securely fitted with a muzzle sufficient to prevent the dog from biting any individual.
(3)  The owner of —
(a)any cat that is found under any situation mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) or (b); or
(b)any dog that is found under any situation mentioned in paragraph (2)(a) or (b),
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(4)  The owner of any dog that is found under the situation mentioned in paragraph (2)(c) (unless this is an offence under rule 9(1) read with rule 27) shall be guilty of an offence and shall 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.
Examination or observation of cat or dog
23.—(1)  The Director‑General may give a direction to the owner of a cat or dog to produce the cat or dog for examination or observation at an animal infirmary within 7 days after the date the direction was given.
(2)  The owner of a cat or dog who is given a direction by the Director‑General under paragraph (1) must comply with the direction.
(3)  If the owner mentioned in paragraph (1) does not comply with a direction given under that paragraph, the Director‑General may impound the cat or dog (as the case may be), and produce the cat or dog (as the case may be) for examination or observation at an animal infirmary.
(4)  A cat or dog produced for examination or observation at an animal infirmary may be —
(a)treated as needed or until the cat or dog (as the case may be) is cured;
(b)subject to paragraph (5), released to its owner after treatment, if any; or
(c)destroyed at the Director‑General’s discretion, if the veterinary surgeon attending to the cat or dog considers its condition to be incurable or that the keeping of the cat or dog entails suffering amounting to cruelty to the cat or dog.
(5)  If a cat or dog is impounded by the Director‑General under paragraph (3), the Director‑General may, instead of releasing the cat or dog (as the case may be) to its owner under paragraph (4)(b), dispose of it in any manner the Director‑General thinks fit.
Treatment of cat or dog
24.—(1)  A cat or dog that is found to be, or is 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 as needed or until cured and released to its owner after treatment; or
(ii)destroyed at once, or at any time while under treatment in the animal infirmary.
(2)  A cat or dog may be impounded at any animal infirmary or police station and detained at that place pending the Director‑General’s instructions if —
(a)the cat or dog is suffering from any injury or is in poor physical condition; and
(b)its owner is not known or cannot after reasonable efforts be ascertained.
Release of seized or impounded cat or dog
25.—(1)  A cat or dog that has been seized or impounded under these Rules may, at the Director‑General’s discretion, be released to its owner.
(2)  The Director‑General may notify the owner by writing to the owner’s last known address to claim a cat or dog seized or impounded under these Rules.
(3)  If the owner of a cat or dog that has been seized or impounded under these Rules fails to claim the cat or dog within the period (which must be not less than 7 days) stipulated in the notice mentioned in paragraph (2), the Director‑General may dispose of the cat or dog as he or she thinks fit.
(4)  The owner of a cat or dog seized or impounded under these Rules is liable to pay all expenses for the treatment, feeding and caring of the cat or dog, and any other expenses reasonably incurred by the Director‑General.
(5)  The Director‑General may require the owner of a cat or dog seized or impounded under these Rules to pay the expenses mentioned in paragraph (4) before the cat or dog (as the case may be) is released to the owner under paragraph (1).
Removal of stray cats or dogs from premises
26.—(1)  The Director‑General may give a direction to the owner of any premises —
(a)to remove any stray cat or dog found in the premises; and
(b)to take such measures as may be necessary to prevent any stray cat or dog from entering, or having shelter or breeding in, the premises.
(2)  The owner of any premises who is given a direction by the Director‑General under paragraph (1) must comply with the direction.
(3)  In this rule —
“owner” has the meaning given by section 2(1) of the Building Maintenance and Strata Management Act 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 1959.