Animals and Birds Act 1965 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Prevention of Spread of Disease
30. Owner of diseased or dead animal or bird to report
Feedback & supportEvery owner or person in charge of any animal or bird infected with or reasonably suspected to be infected with disease must —
owner
“owner” includes any person for the time being in charge of any animal or bird and any person for the time being in occupation of any building;
immediately make a report to an authorised officer or to the nearest police station; and
at once cause that animal or bird and all other animals or birds which have been in contact with it to be confined and isolated until the arrival of an authorised officer.
Every owner or person in charge of any animal or bird reasonably suspected to have died of disease must immediately report its death to an authorised officer or the nearest police station and, in the case of an animal, the carcase must not be moved without the written permission from the authorised officer.
person in charge
“person in charge”, in relation to an animal, means a person who has, whether permanently or on a temporary basis, the animal in the person’s possession, custody or control, or under the person’s care or supervision, and includes an individual who has the animal in such a manner in the course of the individual’s employment;
It is not an offence to bury the carcase of the animal, if no instructions have been received within 24 hours of making the report referred to in subsection (2).
carcase
“carcase” means the dead body of an animal or bird and includes any part thereof and the meat, bones (whether whole, broken or ground), offal, hide, skin, wool, hair, feathers, hoof, horns or other part of an animal or bird, separately or otherwise, or any portion thereof;
Where the officer in charge of a police station has communicated the contents of a report by telephone to an authorised officer, he or she must as soon as possible transmit the report to the authorised officer.
Any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to make a report as required under subsection (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.
Any person who, without reasonable excuse —
fails to cause any animal or bird to be confined and isolated as is required by subsection (1); or
permits the carcase of an animal or bird to be moved in contravention of subsection (2),shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $10,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to both.