24Pregnant and whelping dogs

24 Pregnant and whelping dogs

(1)  A person who has the care or charge of a bitch that is pregnant must seek, or have received, advice from a veterinary surgeon on what is considered the normal manner of a birth for a dog with those characteristics.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

(2)  A person who has the care or charge of a bitch that is whelping must contact a veterinary surgeon for advice, with respect to the bitch, if there has been no progress in the whelping within the 2-hour period after the bitch began straining.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

(3)  A person who has contacted a veterinary surgeon in accordance with subregulation (2) must –

(a) comply with the advice of the veterinary surgeon in respect of the bitch; or

(b) take an action that is –

(i) equivalent to that advice; and

(ii) in the best interests of the health and welfare of the bitch and each puppy being whelped.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.

(4)  A person who has the care or charge of a bitch that is whelping must monitor the bitch once during every 2-hour period to ensure that, to the best of the person’s knowledge, the birth is proceeding in a normal manner.

Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 20 penalty units.