The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983

Licences N.I.

Prohibition on keeping dog without a licence N.I.

3.  Except as permitted by this Order, it shall be unlawful for any person to keep a dog of any description unless he holds a dog licence authorising him to keep a dog of that description.

Persons to whom dog licences may be issued N.I.

4.—(1) The person to whom a dog licence is issued shall be the keeper of the dog.

(2) The following persons shall be disqualified for obtaining or holding a dog licence—

(a) a person disqualified for keeping a dog under[F1 Article 33A or][F2 section 33 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011];

(b) a person under the age of 16.

(3) A dog licence purporting to be held by a person disqualified by paragraph (2) for holding a licence shall be void.

F1 1991 NI 21

F2 Words in art. 4(2)(a) substituted (11.7.2011) by Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (c. 16), ss. 57(1), 59, Sch. 4 para. 1 (with ss. 1(2), 52(1), 53, 54); S.R. 2011/245, art. 2, Sch. 1

Exemptions N.I.

5.  A dog licence shall not be required in respect of—

(a) a dog under the age of six months where that dog is kept by the person who at the time of its birth was the keeper of the bitch which gave it birth;

(b) a dog kept and used wholly or mainly by a blind person for his guidance;

(c) a dog kept in a petshop licensed by the Department under section 8 of the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 where the dog is on offer for sale to the public;

(d) a dog kept by a person to whom a block licence under Article 8(1) is issued where the dog is normally kept on the premises to which the block licence relates;

(e) a dog kept and used wholly for police purposes;

(f) a dog kept by such other person as may be prescribed.

Issue of dog licences N.I.

6.—(1) Dog licences shall be issued by district councils for dogs kept by persons resident in their districts.

(2) An application for a dog licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed.

(3) A dog licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall, unless suspended, remain in force for such period as may be prescribed.

(4) Where a dog dies and the holder of the dog licence intends to become the keeper of another dog ( “the new dog”) before that licence has expired, he may, before taking possession of the new dog, return that licence to the district council by which it was issued and that council shall issue to him a certificate ( “a transfer certificate”) showing that the licence has been transferred so as to have effect in relation to the new dog.

(5) A transfer certificate shall be in such form as may be prescribed.

(6) A transfer certificate shall remain in force for the remainder of the period for which the dog licence is unexpired and shall be deemed to be part of the licence.

Fees for dog licences N.I.

7.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), on the issue of a dog licence there shall be paid by the person to whom the licence is issued the sum of £5.

(2) The Department may by order, subject to affirmative resolution,—

(a) after consultation with such organisations as appear to the Department to be representative of interests substantially affected by the order and with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, alter the sum specified in paragraph (1); or

(b) increase the sum specified in that paragraph in respect of unsterilised dogs.

(3) The Department may, by order, exempt from the provisions of paragraph (1) such persons as may be specified in the order in such circumstance as may be so specified.

(4) Where a dog licence has been issued under Article 6(1) and within 30 days from the date of the issue of the licence—

(a) the holder of the licence does not take possession of a dog; or

(b) the holder takes possession of a dog but within that period subsequently disposes of the dog; or

(c) the dog dies;

the holder of the licence may apply to the district council by which the licence was issued for a refund of the sum paid under paragraph (1) on the issue of the licence.

(5) On a person making application to the district council for the district in which he resides stating—

(a) that he has attained the age of 65; and

(b) that he lives alone; and

(c) that the dog licence is for a dog normally kept in his possession;

the council shall abate by one-half the sum which would otherwise be payable under paragraph (1) on the issue of the licence.

(6) Not more than one abatement shall be made under paragraph (5) in respect of an applicant in any period of 12 months.

(7) An application for a refund under paragraph (4) or an abatement under paragraph (5) shall be in such form as the Department may prescribe.

Block licence N.I.

8.—(1) Block licences shall be issued by district councils for premises situated in their districts in which three or more dogs are kept by persons who keep on the same premises—

(a) not less than three unsterilised bitches any of which is used for breeding purposes; or

(b) not less than three dogs which are registered with the Kennel Club or with such other organisation as the Department may, by order, specify;

(c) being the premises of guard dog kennels in respect of which those persons are registered under Article 10, not less than three dogs which are used as guard dogs elsewhere.

(2) An application for a block licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed.

(3) A block licence shall be in such form as may be prescribed and shall, unless suspended, remain in force for such period as may be prescribed.

(4) On the issue of a block licence there shall be paid by the person to whom the licence is issued the sum of £12.50 or such other sum as the Department, after consultation with such organisations as appear to the Department to be representative of interests substantially affected by the order and with the consent of the Department of Finance and Personnel, may specify by order, subject to affirmative resolution.

(5) Article 4(2) and (3) shall apply to a block licence under this Article as it applies to a dog licence.