Singapore legislation
Section 10
of Miscellaneous Offences(Public Order and Nuisance) Act 1906
Section 10
Liability of dog owner
(1)
Any owner of a dog which causes injury to any person shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(2)
In addition to any fine imposed under subsection (1), compensation not exceeding $2,000 is payable to the person injured in respect of any such injury.
(3)
Such compensation is to be assessed by the Magistrate’s Court and is recoverable from the owner of the dog in the manner provided by law for the recovery of fines before Magistrates’ Courts.
(4)
In any prosecution relating to any dog under subsection (1), it is not necessary to show a previous vicious propensity in the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such previous propensity or that the injury was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner.
(5)
The occupier of any house or premises where any dog was kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of causing any such injury mentioned in subsection (1) is deemed to be the owner of the dog and shall be liable as such unless the occupier can prove that —
he or she was not the owner of the dog at the time the injury complained of was committed; and
the dog was kept or permitted to live or remain in the house or premises without his or her sanction or knowledge.
(6)
Where there are 2 or more occupiers in any house or premises let in separate apartments or lodgings or otherwise, the occupier of that particular part of the premises in which the dog was kept or permitted to live or remain at the time of the injury is deemed to be the owner of the dog.
(7)
No compensation is payable to any person under this section in respect of injury sustained in any house or premises except upon proof that the person entered the house or premises in the ordinary course of the person’s duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier.
(8)
No criminal liability arises under this section in respect of any injury sustained by any person in any house or premises unless the person entered the house or premises in the ordinary course of the person’s duties or with the express or implied permission of the occupier.
(9)
The owner shall not be liable under this section for any injury sustained by any person where the injury was attributable to any wrongful act of that person.