F13 Seizure of stray dogs.

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3 Seizure of stray dogs.

(1)

Where a police officer F2. . . has reason to believe that any dog found in a F3road or place of public resort F4or on any other land or premises is a stray dog, he may seize the dog and may detain it until the owner has claimed it and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention.

F5(1A).

The powers under subsection (1) above shall not be exercised in relation to any dog found on any land or premises other than F6in a road or place of public resort unless the owner of the land or premises or person having the right of possession thereof has consented to such exercise.

F7(1B).

In subsections (1) and (1A) above “ road ” has the same meaning as in the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984.

(2)

Where any dog so seized wears a collar having inscribed thereon or attached thereto the address of any person, or the owner of the dog is known, the chief officer of police, or any person authorised by him in that behalf F8. . ., shall serve on the person whose address is given on the collar, or on the owner, a notice in writing stating that the dog has been so seized, and will be liable to be sold or destroyed if not claimed within seven clear days after the service of the notice.

(3)

A notice under this section may be served either—

(a)

by delivering it to the person on whom it is to be served; or

(b)

by leaving it at that person’s usual or last known place of abode, or at the address given on the collar; or

(c)

by forwarding it by post in a prepaid letter addressed to that person at his usual or last known place of abode, or at the address given on the collar.

(4)

Where any dog so seized has been detained for seven clear days after the seizure, or, in the case of such a notice as aforesaid having been served with respect to the dog, then for seven clear days after the service of the notice, and the owner has not claimed the dog and paid all expenses incurred by reason of its detention, the chief officer of police, or any person authorised by him in that behalf F8. . ., may cause the dog to be sold or destroyed in a manner to cause as little pain as possible.

(5)

No dog so seized shall be given or sold for the purposes of vivisection.

(6)

F9The chief constable of the Police Service of Scotland shall keep, or cause to be kept, one or more registers of all dogs seized under this section F10... F11. . . which are not transferred to an establishment for the reception of stray dogs. The register shall contain a brief description of the dog, the date of seizure, and particulars as to the manner in which the dog is disposed of, and every such register shall be open to inspection at all reasonable times by any member of the public F12. . ..

(7)

[F13The police shall not dispose of any dog seized under this section] by transferring it to an establishment for the reception of stray dogs unless a register is kept for that establishment containing such particulars as to dogs received in the establishment as are above mentioned, and such register is open to inspection by the public F14. . ..

F15 (7A)

Where a dog is disposed of under this section to a purchaser in good faith, the sale shall vest the ownership of the dog in the purchaser.

(8)

The police officer or other person having charge of any dog detained under this section shall cause the dog to be properly fed and maintained.

(9)

All expenses incurred by the F16Police Service of Scotland under this section shall be defrayed F17by the Scottish Police Authority, and any money received by the F16Police Service of Scotland under this section shall be paid to the F18Scottish Police Authority.

F19(10)

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