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.