20Registration fee exemption for assistance animals

20 Registration fee exemption for assistance animals

20 Registration fee exemption for assistance animals

(1) There is an exemption from payment of a registration fee for the registration of an animal that is an assistance animal or is undergoing training to be an assistance animal.

(2) The exemption ceases to apply if the animal ceases to be an assistance animal or ceases training without becoming an assistance animal.

(3) If the exemption ceases, the registration fee for the animal’s registration must be paid within 28 days after the exemption ceases.

(4) If the registration fee is not paid within that time, the council of the area in which the animal is ordinarily kept may cancel the registration of the animal by noting the cancellation on the Register.

(5) Before cancelling the registration of an animal under subclause (4), the council must notify the owner of the animal in writing of the proposed cancellation and of any associated action proposed to be taken (including subsequent prosecution of the owner for being the owner of an unregistered animal).

(6) A council that cancels the registration of an animal under this clause must notify the Departmental Chief Executive of the cancellation within 7 days.

(7) The council or the Departmental Chief Executive may reinstate the registration of an animal that was cancelled under subclause (4) by noting the reinstatement on the Register.