24WPower to dispose of animal at risk not claimed by owner or person in charge

24W Power to dispose of animal at risk not claimed by owner or person in charge (1) If an animal has been seized from premises, and the welfare of the animal is reasonably believed to be at risk, and if within 14 days of— (a) a notice being served on the owner or person in charge of the animal under section 24U(1) and 24U(2); or (b) a notice being— (i) left at the premises or sent to the premises under section 24U(3) and 24U(4); or (ii) sent by post to the last known address of the owner or person in charge of the animal under section 24U(3) and 24U(4) (where the address is known)— whichever is the later— the owner or person in charge of the animal has not contacted the inspector identified in the notice, the animal may be disposed of in accordance with this Division. (2) If an animal has been seized in a public place, and the welfare of the animal is reasonably believed to be at risk, and— (a) a notice has been served on the owner of the animal under section 24U(1) and 24U(2) and neither the owner nor person in charge of the animal has contacted the inspector identified in the notice, within 7 days of service of the notice, the animal may be disposed of in accordance with this Division; or (b) a notice has been sent by post to the last known address of the owner or person in charge of the animal under section 24U(3) and 24U(4), and neither the owner nor person in charge of the animal has contacted the inspector identified in the notice, within 14 days of the sending of the notice, the animal may be disposed of in accordance with this Division. (3) If an animal has been seized in a public place, and— (a) the welfare of the animal is reasonably believed to be at risk; and (b) it is not possible to send a notice to the last known address of the owner or person in charge under section 24U because both the owner and person in charge of the animal are not able to be contacted (whether or not the identity of the owner and the person in charge of the animal are known); and (c) neither the owner nor the person in charge of the animal has contacted the inspector who seized the animal within 14 days of the seizure— the animal may be disposed of in accordance with this Division. S. 24X inserted by No. 65/2007 s. 95.