Animals Act, 1985

Impounding of certain wandering or trespassing animals by Garda Síochána or local authorities.

4.—(1) In this section—

“public place” means any street, road or other place to which the public have access with vehicles whether as of right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge; and

“State authority” means a Minister of the Government or the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland.

(2) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), a member of the Garda Síochána or any local authority may impound any animal found wandering on a public road or in any public place, or trespassing on any public park or open space which is owned or occupied by a local authority or a State authority.

(b) In relation to any such public park or open space, the power to impound conferred by paragraph (a) may be exercised only on request by the authority by which such public park or open space is owned or occupied.

(3) The Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland may impound any animal found trespassing on any public park which is under the control and management of the Commissioners.

(4) Paragraph 11 of section 10 of the Act of 1851 and section 20 of that Act shall not apply in relation to the impounding of an animal by a member of the Garda Síochána or by a local authority or by the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland.

(5) Where an animal is impounded in pursuance of the powers conferred by this section, the authority by which the animal is impounded may recover the cost of transporting the animal to the pound from the owner of the animal as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.