9Search for lost stock

9 Search for lost stock

(1)  The owner of any domestic animals who has reasonable grounds for believing that any of them are on the land of another person and who –

(a) has been refused permission by that other person to search for them on his land; or

(b) owing to the absence of that other person from the neighbourhood or for any other satisfactory reason is unable to communicate with that other person within reasonable time –

may apply to a justice for authority to enter and search that land for the animals.

(2)  The justice may give to the owner a warrant under his hand subject to such terms and conditions as to the justice seem reasonable, and any such terms and conditions shall be set forth in the warrant.

(3)  A warrant under this section, subject to any terms and conditions thereby imposed, authorizes and empowers the owner, if accompanied by an inspector of stock or police officer, to enter on the land and search for the animals and to remove therefrom all animals belonging to him which may be found thereon, and for that purpose to employ such assistants, horses, and dogs as may be reasonably necessary.