Stray Farm Animals
Section 8 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 prohibits the straying of farm animals.
Stray Dogs
Control of Dogs Act 1996 ““stray dog” includes any dog which appears to be unaccompanied by a person unless such dog is on the premises of its owner or of some other person who has the dog in his charge or of any other person with that person’s consent.”
Livestock Worrying
In the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, ““worry” in relation to livestock, means to attack or kill or to chase livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause the death of or injury or suffering to the livestock or to result in financial loss to the owner of the livestock.”
Section 9 (2) of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986 “If a dog worries livestock, the owner or any other person in charge of the dog shall be guilty of an offence unless it is established that at the material time the dog worried the livestock for the purpose of removing trespassing livestock and that having regard to all the circumstances the action was reasonable and necessary.”
Stray Horses
Under the Control of Horses Act 1996, ““stray horse” means a horse apparently wandering at large, lost, abandoned or unaccompanied (whether tethered or untethered) by any person apparently in charge of it in a public place or on any premises without the owner’s or occupier’s consent;”
Abandoned Animals
It is prohibited under Section 14 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to abandon a protected animal (there are some exceptions).
