Section 2: Interpretation

2. Interpretation In this Act — “adult dog” means a dog which is more than 18 months old; “animal” means a living vertebrate, other than a human being; “attack” includes to behave in such a manner as to cause an apprehension of being attacked; “authorised officer” means a public officer designated as such by the supervising officer under section 4; “Chairperson” means the Chairperson of the Council designated under section 15; “Council” means the Council referred to in section 15; “dangerous dog” means a dog of a breed, kind or description listed in the First Schedule; “Director” means the Director of the Society appointed under section 18; “dispose of” means to sell, euthanise, exchange or give away for adoption or as gift; “dog” means a dog of any age or sex; “dog breeder” means a person referred to in section 36 (2); “dog show” includes a — (a) companion dog show; (b) championship dog show; (c) single breed open dog show; (d) dog show within a circus; “domestic animal” — (a) means an animal kept by, or living close to, a human being, which is — (i) dependent on the human being for its care and sustenance; or (ii) kept by the human being in a state of captivity; [Issue 6] A17A – 2 Revised Laws of Mauritius (b) includes — (i) a bird or reptile kept as a domestic pet; (ii) a dog kept by the police or Customs authorities, the Mauritius Prisons Service, a person issued with a licence to operate a private security service under the Private Security Service Act, or the National Parks and Conservation Service or an officer of that department; and (iii) any other animal kept by a person for commercial or recreational purposes, or a person’s occupation or employment; “domestic pet” means a domestic animal, other than an animal kept by a person for commercial or recreational purposes or a person’s occupation or employment; “DVS” means the Division of Veterinary Services of the Ministry; “euthanasia” means painless killing of an animal carried out by a veterinary surgeon; “experiment” means any experiment performed on an animal and calculated not to give pain; “licence” means a licence issued under section 8; “member”, in relation to the Society, means — (a) a life member; or (b) an ordinary member; “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of agriculture is assigned; “neuter”, in relation to a dog — (a) means to spay or castrate; but (b) does not include to vasectomise; “officer” — (a) means a person appointed as such under section 19; and (b) includes the Director; “owner”, in relation to an animal — (a) means a person aged 16 or more who — (i) owns the animal; or (ii) is in charge of the animal; and (b) includes — (i) the registered owner of the animal; or (ii) the parent or guardian of a minor under the age of 16 who owns or is in charge of the animal; but A17A – 3 [Issue 7] Animal Welfare Act (c) does not include a person who has impounded or seized the animal under this Act; “pedigree certificate”, in relation to an animal, means a certificate containing genealogical information indicating the ancestral line of descent of the animal; “protected wildlife” has the same meaning as in the Wildlife and National Parks Act; “protection order” means an order referred to in section 6; “public place” — (a) means a road or other place, whether enclosed or not, to which any person is permitted to have access, whether against payment or otherwise; and (b) includes the common parts of a building containing 2 or more separate a , means a certificate containing genealogical information indicating the ancestral line of descent of the animal; “protected wildlife” has the same meaning as in the Wildlife and National Parks Act; “protection order” means an order referred to in section 6; “public place” — (a) means a road or other place, whether enclosed or not, to which any person is permitted to have access, whether against payment or otherwise; and (b) includes the common parts of a building containing 2 or more separate apartments; “road” has the same meaning as in the Road Traffic Act; “Society” means the Mauritius Society for Animal Welfare established under section 12; “stray”, in relation to an animal, means to be at large and not under the control or charge of any person; “supervising officer” means the supervising officer of the Ministry; “vehicle” — (a) means any means of transport on land; and (b) includes any aircraft or watercraft; “veterinary surgeon” has the same meaning as in the Veterinary Council Act. PART II – PROMOTION OF ANIMAL WELFARE