71Destruction or disposal of impounded dogs and cats

71 Destruction or disposal of impounded dogs and cats (1) Subject to this by-law, the CEO may, after a dog or cat is impounded for 4 business days: (a) transfer the dog or cat to an entity that provides animal welfare services; or (b) arrange for its destruction.

City of Darwin By-laws 2023 38 (2) The CEO may make arrangements for the transfer of dogs and cats from a pound to a person or entity that provides animal welfare services. Example for clause (2) Arrangements could be made with the RSPCA and other organisations that provide care for unwanted and stray animals. (3) The CEO must not destroy or dispose of an impounded dog or cat because it is savage, destructive, unclaimed, unregistered or unwanted until after the later of the following: (a) if circumstances related to the destruction are being investigated – the end of that investigation; (b) if the destruction is subject to legal proceedings – 14 days after the end of those legal proceedings. (4) If an offence is being investigated in relation to an impounded dog or cat, it must not be destroyed or disposed of until the investigation is complete. Example for clause (4) If a dog is alleged to have attacked a person, the dog would not be destroyed unless the investigation is complete.