Animals and Birds Act 1965 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 9 · Offences and Penalties
65. Presumptions
Feedback & supportWhere the owner or person in charge of a diseased animal or bird is charged with an offence under this Act in respect of the disease, the owner or person is presumed to have known of the existence of the disease in the animal or bird until the owner or person shows to the satisfaction of the court before which the owner or person is charged that the owner or person had no such knowledge and could not with reasonable diligence have obtained such knowledge.
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;
Where there is any doubt regarding the ownership of any animal or bird, the person found in possession of the animal or bird, or the occupier of the premises frequented by it may be presumed to be the owner thereof until the contrary is proved.
animal
“animal” means any mammal (other than man) or fish and includes any other living creature that is prescribed as an animal for the purposes of this Act or that falls within a class of animals that is prescribed for those purposes;