19ACCollection of sample by authorised officer, &c.

19AC Collection of sample by authorised officer, &c.

[Section 19AC Inserted by No. 53 of 2019, s. 8, Applied:18 Dec 2019]

(1)  An authorised officer who believes, on reasonable grounds, that a dog was involved in an offence committed under section 19AB(1) may collect a sample from the dog.

(2)  An authorised officer who believes, on reasonable grounds, that an offence under section 19AB(1) has been committed may request that a general manager authorise the collection of a sample from a dog by a veterinary surgeon for the purposes of determining whether the dog was a dog involved in the offence.

(3)  A general manager who receives a request under subsection (2) in relation to a dog may authorise a veterinary surgeon to collect an intimate or non-intimate sample from the dog.

(4)  If a veterinary surgeon –

(a) is a government veterinary surgeon – the veterinary surgeon may collect a sample from a dog and advise an authorised officer of the collection of the sample; or

(b) is a veterinary surgeon who has been authorised under subsection (3) in relation to a dog – the veterinary surgeon may collect a sample from the dog.

(5)  If an authorised officer, or a veterinary surgeon, may, under subsection (1) or (4) , collect a sample from a dog, an authorised officer may do one or more of the following:

(a) seize the dog and detain it for as long as is required for the authorised officer or veterinary surgeon to collect the sample as authorised;

(b) if, in the opinion of the authorised officer, the dog is aggressive or difficult to manage, direct the owner of the dog to accompany the authorised officer, together with the dog, to a pound or other place where the sample may be safely collected;

(c) direct the owner to produce the dog for the purposes of allowing the sample to be collected as authorised.

(6)  If a sample is collected from a dog by a person under or , the responsible person in relation to the sample is to ensure that –