Malvern Hills Act 1995

19 Seizure of stray animals

(1) The Conservators may seize and impound any animal to which this section applies, which is on the Malvern Hills in contravention of any byelaw duly made by the Conservators.

(2) The Conservators shall, within 24 hours after impounding any animal under this section, give notice of the impounding to the officer in charge of a police station and also to the owner of the animal if his identity be known to them or can reasonably be ascertained.

(3) The Conservators shall—

(a) keep a register of all animals seized by them under this section containing a brief description of each animal, the date of seizure and a statement as to whether the animal was sold or otherwise disposed of or destroyed;

(b) make the register available for public inspection at all reasonable times.

(4) If after seven clear days from the date of impounding the owner has not claimed an animal and paid all expenses incurred in seizing, impounding and maintaining it, the Conservators may sell or otherwise dispose of the animal otherwise than by destruction, and if after 14 clear days from the said date the owner has not claimed the animal and paid all such expenses the Conservators may destroy the animal in a manner to cause as little pain or distress as possible.

(5) Whilst any animal is impounded by the Conservators under this section the Conservators shall cause it to be properly fed and maintained.

(6) If any sums received on disposal of the animal are less than the expenses of the Conservators in seizing and maintaining the animal the Conservators may recover from the owner of the animal the difference.

(7) Where the Conservators dispose of any animal under subsection (4) above, they shall be accountable to the owner of the animal for any money arising from the disposal after deducting all expenses incurred by reason of its seizure, impounding, maintenance and disposal; but nothing in this subsection shall render the Conservators so accountable if they have accounted to any other person whom they reasonably believed to be the owner.

(8) The animals to which this section applies are cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs and domestic fowl.