Tanzania
Animals (Protection) Act
Chapter 153
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
- Commenced on 7 May 1926
- [This is the version of this document at 31 July 2002.]
- [Note: This legislation has been thoroughly revised and consolidated under the supervision of the Attorney General's Office, in compliance with the Laws Revision Act No. 7 of 1994, the Revised Laws and Annual Revision Act (Chapter 356 (R.L.)), and the Interpretation of Laws and General Clauses Act No. 30 of 1972. This version is up-to-date as at 31st July 2002.]
1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Animals (Protection) Act.2. Interpretation
In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—"animal" means any domestic or captive animal;"captive animal" means any animal (not being a domestic animal) of whatsoever kind or species, and whether a quadruped or not, including any bird, fish, or reptile, which is in captivity, or confinement, or which is maimed, pinioned, or subjected to any appliance or contrivance for the purpose of hindering or preventing its escape from captivity or confinement;"domestic animal" means any horse, ass, mule, camel, bull, sheep, pig, goat, dog, cat, or fowl, or any other animal of whatsoever kind or species, and whether a quadruped or not, which is tame or which has been or is being sufficiently tamed to serve some purpose for the use of man;"Minister" means the Minister responsible for agriculture.3. Offences of cruelty
4. Court may order destruction of animal
Where the owner of an animal is convicted of an offence of cruelty within the meaning of this Act, it shall be lawful for the court, if the court is satisfied that it would be cruel to keep the animal alive, to direct that the animal be destroyed, and to assign the animal to any suitable person for that purpose; and the person to whom such animal is so assigned shall as soon as possible destroy such animal or cause or procure such animal to be destroyed, in his presence without unnecessary suffering and any reasonable expenses incurred in destroying the animal may be ordered by the court to be paid by the owner, and thereupon shall be recoverable summarily as a civil debt.5. Court may deprive person convicted of cruelty of ownership of animal
If the owner of any animal is guilty of cruelty within the meaning of this Act to the animal, the court, upon his conviction thereof, may, if it thinks fit, in addition to any other punishment, deprive the person of the ownership of the animal and may make such order as to the disposal of the animal as it thinks fit in the circumstances:Provided that no order shall be made under this section, unless it is shown by evidence as to a previous conviction, or as to the character of the owner, or otherwise, that the animal, if left with the owner, is likely to be exposed to further cruelty.6. Compensation for damage done by cruelty to an animal
If any person shall, by cruelty within the meaning of this Act to any animal, does or cause to be done, any damage or injury to the animal or any person or property, he shall upon conviction for the cruelty under this Act, be liable upon the application of the person aggrieved to be ordered to pay compensation to the person who shall sustain damage or injury as aforesaid, such sum not exceeding shillings two hundred, as the court before which he is convicted may consider reasonable and the sum so ordered to be paid shall be recoverable as if it were a fine:Provided that this section shall not—7. Injured animal
8. Search warrants
9. Powers of police officers
10. Employers and owners to produce drivers or animals if so required
11. Costs
12. Payments out of fine
Where in any proceedings under this Act any fine is imposed the court may award any sum or sums not exceeding half the total fine to the person, not being a police officer, who has complained and prosecuted, or to such other person or society as the court shall think fit.13. Infirmaries
14. Power to make rules
The Minister may make such rules as he may think fit for the following purposes—History of this document
31 July 2002 this version
Consolidation
07 May 1926
Commenced