Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965

PART IV

Use of Anaesthetics in Operations on Animals

Use of anaesthetics in operations on animals.

22.—(1) If any operation to which this section applies is performed on any animal without the use of an anaesthetic so administered as to prevent any pain during the operation, that operation shall be deemed for the purposes of the Principal Act to be an operation which is performed without due care and humanity.

(2) This section applies to any operation with or without the use of instruments which involves interference with the sensitive tissues or the bone structure of an animal (including the dehorning of an animal that involves such interference), other than—

(a) the making of injections or extractions by means of a hollow needle; or

(b) the application of a rubber ring or other device to an animal within seven days after its birth for the purpose of constricting the flow of blood to the scrotum of the animal; or

(c) the application of a rubber ring or other device to a lamb within seven days after its birth for the purpose of constricting the flow of blood to the tail of the lamb; or

(d) the cauterisation of the horn buds of a calf within fourteen days after its birth; or

(e) an operation referred to in the Schedule to this Act.

(3) The Minister may after consultation with such organisations representing the veterinary profession or agricultural interests as may appear to him to be appropriate, by order vary any of the ages specified in paragraph 5 of the said Schedule.

(4) An order under subsection (3) of this section—

(a) shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it has been made, and if a resolution annulling the order is passed by either House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the order has been laid before it, the order shall be annulled accordingly, but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder, and

(b) may be varied or revoked by a subsequent order.

(5) The word “animal” in this section shall not include any bird, fish or reptile.

(6) The Animals (Anaesthetics) Act, 1919, is hereby repealed.