24Action to be taken after occupier of private land takes possession of animal

#### 24 Action to be taken after occupier of private land takes possession of animal 24 Action to be taken after occupier of private land takes possession of animal > > (1) If an occupier of private land takes possession of an animal, the occupier must— > > > > > (a) if the occupier knows the identity of the responsible person for the animal and wishes to return the animal to the responsible person— > > > > > > > (i) contact the responsible person for the animal within 24 hours of taking possession of the animal, and > > > > > > > (ii) return the animal to the responsible person within 4 days of taking possession of the animal or the longer period agreed with the responsible person, or > > > > > (b) if the occupier does not know the identity of the responsible person for the animal but is taking reasonable steps to identify the responsible person— > > > > > > > (i) keep the animal for a period of no more than 4 days from the time of taking possession of the animal, and > > > > > > > (ii) by the end of the period— > > > > > > > > > (A) return the animal to a person the occupier is satisfied is the responsible person for the animal, or > > > > > > > > > (B) contact an authority, whose area of operations includes the land, to make arrangements for the animal to be taken to a place of care, or > > > > > (c) if the occupier does not wish to return the animal to the responsible person for the animal or is unwilling to take reasonable steps to identify the responsible person—contact an authority, whose area of operations includes the land, to make arrangements for the animal to be taken to a place of care. > > > > Maximum penalty—25 penalty units. > > > (2) The responsible person for the animal must pay to the occupier of the private land the amount payable under section 55 for the period during which the animal was in the occupier’s possession. > > > (3) If the responsible person for the animal does not pay the occupier an amount due under subsection (2), the occupier of the private land may recover the amount from the responsible person for the animal as a debt.