Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

This section applies in relation to an animal seized by a police officer and held in the possession of the police service, whether or not under an order under section 696.

If the person who appears to be the owner of the animal is known, the commissioner may, by letter of demand, require the person to pay to the commissioner within a stated reasonable time, of at least 28 days, the commissioner’s stated reasonable costs of keeping the animal.

The commissioner must not give the person the letter of demand unless the commissioner first gives the person written notice of the commissioner’s intention to require the person to pay the costs and a reasonable time, of at least 14 days, to state why the person should not be required to pay the costs.

If—

after considering any representations made by the person, the commissioner gives the person the letter of demand; and

the person fails to pay the amount stated in the letter of demand within the time stated in the letter of demand;

The letter of demand must inform the person—

of the consequences of failing to reply to the letter of demand; and

that the person may appeal against the letter of demand to a Magistrates court.

Nothing in this section stops the owner of an animal voluntarily surrendering ownership of the animal to the State under section 698.

In this section—animal, includes offspring of an animal, born while the animal is in the possession of the police service.