S.I. No. 121/1954:

TRANSIT OF GREYHOUNDS ORDER, 1954.

TRANSIT OF GREYHOUNDS ORDER, 1954.

I, THOMAS WALSH, Minister for Agriculture in exercise of the powers conferred on me by the joint operation of the Agriculture Acts, 1931 to 1948, and the Diseases of Animals Acts, 1894 to 1954, and of every and any other power me in this behalf enabling, hereby order as follows :--

1.--(1) This Order may be cited as the Transit of Greyhounds Order, 1954.

(2) This Order shall come into operation on the 1st day of September, 1954.

2. In this Order :

" the Act " means the Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, as amended by any subsequent enactment ;

" the Minister " means the Minister for Agriculture ;

" master " when used in relation to a vessel or aircraft includes any person for the time being in command of such vessel or aircraft ;

" port " includes " airport."

3. The Interpretation Act, 1937 (No. 38 of 1937), applies to this Order.

4. The following provisions shall apply in relation to the carriage of greyhounds by rail :--

(i) Every greyhound in the course of transit by rail shall, unless its owner or an agent of the owner is travelling on the same train, be accommodated in a portable kennel of the type described in the Schedule to this Order.

(ii) Not more than one greyhound shall be accommodated in each portable kennel, but this shall not apply to a greyhound litter accompanied or unaccompanied by the dam.

(iii) Each greyhound shall, in the course of transit, wear a collar and a leather strap muzzle, but this shall not apply to a greyhound pup untrained to wear a collar or muzzle.

5.--(1) The following provisions shall apply in relation to the carriage of greyhounds by a vessel or aircraft from a port in the State to a port in Great Britain, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man :--

(i) Every greyhound shall, in the course of the voyage or flight, be accommodated in a portable kennel of the type described in the Schedule to this Order.

(ii) Not more than one greyhound shall be accommodated in each portable kennel, but this shall not apply to a greyhound litter accompanied or unaccompanied by a dam.

(iii) Each greyhound shall, in the course of the voyage or flight, wear a collar and a leather strap muzzle, but this shall not apply to a greyhound pup untrained to wear a collar or muzzle.

(iv) Portable kennels in which greyhounds are accommodated shall be so secured as to prevent their displacement by the motion of the vessel or aircraft and shall be so placed as to ensure that the greyhounds will not be caused unnecessary suffering from undue exposure to the weather.

(v) Greyhounds shall not be carried in a part of the vessel or aircraft in which livestock are accommodated unless separated from such livestock by the side of a cattle pen or other suitable partition.

(vi) All parts of the vessel or aircraft in which greyhounds are accommodated shall be sufficiently and suitably ventilated and the portable kennels shall be so placed as to admit a constant supply of fresh air to the greyhounds.

(vii) Provision shall be made for adequate light for the tending of the greyhounds in the course of the voyage or flight.

(viii) One or more members, as may be required, of the personnel of the vessel or aircraft shall be detailed to tend the greyhounds during the voyage or flight.

(ix) Greyhounds shall be provided with a supply of water if on board the vessel for more than eight hours, and also with a sufficient quantity of suitable food, if on board for more than twelve hours.

(2) The provisions of this Article shall not apply to the carriage of a greyhound brought from a port outside the State and not landed in the State.

6.--(1) Notwithstanding anything in this Order, the Minister may by licence under this Article authorise the use of any portable kennel which does not comply with the requirements of paragraph 1 of the Schedule to this Order, provided that such a licence shall not be granted in respect of a kennel which had not been in use prior to the making of this Order.

(2) The Minister may at his discretion grant or refuse licences under this Article.

(3) The Minister may attach to any licence granted under this Article such conditions as appear to him to be proper.

(4) A licence granted under this Article shall be valid for such period as the Minister may determine.

(5) The Minister may at any time revoke any licence granted under this Article.

7. Each portable kennel in which a greyhound has been carried shall be thoroughly cleansed and disinfected after use.

8. If anything is done or omitted to be done in contravention of the provisions of this Order, the railway company concerned or, as the case may be, the owner, the charterer and the master of the vessel or aircraft concerned, shall each be guilty of an offence under the Act.

SCHEDULE.

1. The internal measurements of each portable kennel used for the transit of greyhounds shall be at least two feet six inches high, three feet two inches long and one foot two inches wide.

2. Each kennel shall be fitted with a suitable door capable of being securely fastened.

3. Each kennel shall be so constructed as to include adequate provision for ventilation.

4. The interior of each kennel shall be free from all boltheads or other projections likely to cause suffering to the animals carried therein.

GIVEN under my Official Seal this 31st day of May, 1954.

(Sgd.) THOMAS WALSH,

Minister for Agriculture.