The Dangerous Wild Animals (Northern Ireland) Order 2004

InterpretationN.I.

This section has no associated Explanatory Memorandum

2.—(1) The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33) applies to this Order as it applies to an Act of the Assembly.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), for the purposes of this Order a person is a keeper of an animal if he has it in his possession.

(3) If at any time an animal ceases to be in the possession of a person, any person who immediately before that time was a keeper thereof by virtue of paragraph (2) continues to be a keeper of the animal until another person becomes a keeper thereof by virtue of that paragraph.

(4) Where an animal is in the possession of any person for the purpose of—

(a)preventing it from causing damage,

(b)restoring it to its owner,

(c)undergoing veterinary treatment, or

(d)being transported on behalf of another person,

the person having such possession shall not by virtue only of that possession be treated for the purposes of this Order as a keeper of the animal.

(5) In this Order—

  • “circus” includes any place where animals are kept or introduced wholly or mainly for the purpose of performing tricks or manoeuvres;

  • “damage” includes the death or disease of, or injury to, any person;

  • “dangerous wild animal” means any animal of a kind for the time being specified in the first column of the Schedule;

  • “the Department” means the Department of the Environment;

  • “licence” means a licence under this Order;

  • “licence holder” means a person holding a licence;

  • “modifications” includes additions, omissions, amendments and substitutions;

  • “premises” includes any place;

  • “statutory provision” has the meaning assigned by section 1(f) of the Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c. 33);

  • “veterinary surgeon” means a person who is for the time being registered in the register of veterinary surgeons;

  • “the Welfare of Animals Act” means the [F1Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011].

(6) The second column of the Schedule is included by way of explanation only and, in the event of any dispute or proceedings, only the first column is to be taken into account.