Tanzania
Animals (Pounds) Act
Chapter 154
- Published in Tanzania Government Gazette
- Commenced on 25 April 1930
- [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 (Pounds) Act.2. Interpretation
In this Act the expression—"poundable animal" means the male, female or young of any animal of the following kinds, namely, horse, ass, mule, cattle, sheep, goat or swine.3. Application
This Act shall be in force in such districts only as the President may from time to time by notice in the Gazette appoint.4. Establishment of pounds
It shall be lawful for the administrative officer in charge of any district to which this Act has been applied to direct the establishment therein of such pounds as he may think necessary and such pounds shall be erected and maintained at the expenses of and be the property of the Government and the establishment of any such pound shall be notified in the Gazette.5. Management of pounds and appointment of pound keepers
The senior officer of police in every district shall have the management and direction of all pounds in the district, including the power to appoint a pound keeper to every pound and it shall be lawful for every pound keeper so appointed to demand the fees and expenses specified in the First and Second Schedules to this Act.6. No poundable animal allowed to trespass
7. Penalty for permitting animal to trespass
Any person as aforesaid who suffers or permits any such animals so to trespass shall, in addition to any liability for the payment of pound and seizure fees, be liable on first conviction to a fine not exceeding one hundred shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, and on a subsequent conviction to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months or to both.8. Animals trespassing may be impounded
Any animal found trespassing in or upon cultivated or enclosed land or any unenclosed land the boundaries whereof are defined may be seized by the owner or occupier thereof or any person authorised by him or where the land is the property of the Government, by any police officer and any person so seizing any such animal shall send or take it to the nearest pound to be detained and dealt with according to this Act:Provided that—9. Person impounding animals to answer questions
When any animal is brought to any pound it shall be the duty of the pound keeper to make, and of the person bringing the animal to the pound to answer, all such inquiries as are likely to make known the owner or person having the charge of the animal and any person bringing an animal to the pound who, upon any inquiry being made of him pursuant to this section, does not, according to the best of his knowledge, remembrance, information and belief, truly answer such inquiry shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred shillings.10. Notice to owner of animal impounded
11. Costs of keeping animal in pound
Where any animal has been impounded, and notice of such impounding has been served under section 10 upon the owner or person having the charge of such animal, the owner or person shall, in default of such animal being sold for a sum sufficient to defray such costs and charges, be liable to the fees and expenses specified in the First and Second Schedules hereto.12. Notice where owner of animal not known
13. Fraudulent impounding
Any person who drives, leads or entices any animal into land with intent to impound such animal or to procure the same to be impounded, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.14. Rescuing animals impounded
Any person who rescues or releases, or attempts to rescue or release any animal while in or being taken to any pound, or breaks or injures any pound, or does, or aids or abets the doing of, any act whereby any animal impounded may escape or be unlawfully liberated, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months.15. Detention of seized animals beyond statutory period
Any owner or occupier of land trespassed upon, securing and keeping any animal seized under section 8 for a period longer than that prescribed in section 8 shall be committing an offence under this Act, and shall be liable to a fine for each day during which the offence continues not exceeding one hundred shillings for each such day, and in addition to such fine shall forfeit all claim to the seizure fee in respect of any such animal, and any such animal found secured or kept in contravention of the provisions of section 8 may be seized and taken away by any police officer and disposed of in such manner as the magistrate may direct.16. Disposal of impounded animals
Any animal received into any pound under this Act shall be detained until sold under this Act, unless before the time for such sale the seizure fee specified in the First Schedule to this Act where payable, and the pound fees and expenses specified in the Second Schedule, are paid.17. Sales of impounded animals
18. Disposal of proceeds of sale
19. Power to abate fees and expenses
20. Rules as to feeding, care and treatment of animals in pounds
The senior police officer may with the approval of the administrative officer in charge of the district make rules as to the sum per day to be paid for the feeding of animals in pounds and as to their care and treatment, and such rules shall be posted in some conspicuous place at the pound.21. Record to be kept by pound keeper
Every pound keeper shall keep such record as the senior police officer from time to time may direct for describing the animals impounded, and owners of the animal impounded and the persons bringing the animal impounded to the pound, for specifying the moneys due or received in respect of any animal and the disposal of all moneys received by the pound keeper and for registering such other matters as the senior police officer from time to time may direct.22. Disposal of pound fees
All pound fees less an amount equal to the cost of feeding animals impounded shall, once in every month, be paid over to the administrative officer to be paid by him to the public revenue.23. Act not to affect right of action
The remedies given by this Act in respect of animals trespassing shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any remedy by action or suit to which any person may be entitled in respect of any such trespass.History of this document
31 July 2002 this version
Consolidation
25 April 1930
Commenced