Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations

ANIMALS (PROHIBITED DOGS) REGULATIONS PUBLISHING DETAILS Revised under the authority of the Law Revision Act (2020 Revision). The Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations, 2002 made the 13th August, 2002, as amended by the Citation of Acts of Parliament Act, 2020, and consolidated with — Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2003 made the 28th July, 2003, Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011 made the 15th March, 2011 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014 made the 11th March, 2014 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 made the 15th March, 2025 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025 made the 8th April, Consolidated and revised this 31st day of December, 2025. Note (not forming part of these Regulations): This revision replaces the 2014 Revision which should now be discarded. Arrangement of Regulations Arrangement of Regulations Regulation 2A. 2B. 7A. Regulation 1 Citation These regulations may be cited as the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations (2026 Revision). Types of prohibited dogs (1) No person may import a prohibited dog into the Islands. (2) For the purposes of section 45 of the Act, the following types of dogs are prohibited dogs — (a) Pit Bull Terrier and its breed types; (b) Dogo Argentino and its breed types; Fila Brazileiro and its breed types; (d) Japanese Tosa and its breed types; and (e) any breed of dog whose breeding lineage was for the primary purpose of dog fighting. Regulation 2A 2A. Exception from prohibition on importation 2A. (1) A person who wishes to export a prohibited dog shall provide written evidence, together with the application for export of the dog, that the dog is spayed or neutered unless the dog is medically exempted. (2) Notwithstanding regulation 2, a person who has exported a dog in accordance with paragraph (1) shall not be prohibited from importing that dog back into the Islands unless the dog is pregnant. 2B. Repealed 2B. Repealed by regulation 4 of Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations, 2025 (SL 27 of 2025). Other prohibited dogs (1) If it appears to the Cabinet, after being advised by the Director that any other kind of dog not specified in regulation 2 presents a serious danger to the public, the Cabinet may, by notice published in the Gazette, impose in relation to dogs of that type restrictions corresponding, with such modifications, if any, as the Cabinet thinks appropriate, to all or any of those in regulation 2. (2) A notice under this regulation may provide exceptions from any restriction imposed by the notice in such cases and subject to compliance with such conditions as are specified in the notice. Identification of dogs resembling prohibited dogs (1) The owner of a dog may request a determination of whether a dog is a prohibited dog by bringing the dog for an examination by the Director and the fee for such an examination is fifty dollars. (2) If the Director determines that a dog is not a prohibited dog, the Director may cause a mark designated by the Director to be tattooed, inserted in the dog as a microchip or otherwise permanently marked upon such dog, and the Director shall issue to the owner a certificate as verification and proof that the dog is not a prohibited dog. (3) If the Director determines that the dog is a prohibited dog, section 45 shall apply. Registration and possession of prohibited dogs (1) The owner of a prohibited dog who has acquired such dog prior to the 6th May, 2002 may, subject to the approval of the Director, register such dog in accordance with these regulations no later than the 9th June, 2003. (2) Such registration shall be effective for one year from the date of issue and may be renewed annually prior to the date of expiration. (3) The annual fee for such registration of renewal is fifty dollars. Regulation 6 Conditions for registration under regulation 5 The owner of a prohibited dog may not register such dog unless all the following conditions are met — (a) the owner shall present to the Director proof that the owner is at least sixteen years of age at the date of registration; (b) the dog shall be spayed or neutered prior to registration and the owner shall present to the Director proof from a licensed veterinarian of such spaying or neutering; and the owner shall present to the Director a current licence issued under section 24. Identification of registered dogs (1) The Director shall, upon registering a prohibited dog in accordance with these regulations, take a colour photograph of the dog, which photograph shall clearly show the colour and size of the dog and the Director shall cause a registration number to be assigned to the dog. (2) The Director shall issue an identification tag containing the registration number assigned to the dog, and such tag shall be worn by the dog at all times. (3) The Director may also cause a mark designated by the Director to be tattooed, inserted in the dog as a microchip or otherwise permanently marked upon such dog, and such mark shall be unique to the dog. 7A. De-registration of certain dogs 7A. (1) The owner of a dog — (a) which, immediately before the date of commencement of the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014, was registered as a prohibited dog in accordance with these regulations; and (b) which is of a type that is not specified, on that date, as a prohibited dog, may request a determination of whether the dog is a prohibited dog by bringing the dog for an examination by the Director, and the fee for such an examination is fifty dollars. (2) If the Director determines that the dog is not a prohibited dog, the Director shall — (a) strike from the register the registration number that is assigned to the dog, and all other details appearing in the register in relation to the dog; and (b) issue to the owner a certificate as verification and proof that the dog is not a prohibited dog; and the owner shall, upon receipt of the certificate, deliver to the Director the identification tag containing the registration number assigned to the dog. Regulation 8 Possession of prohibited dogs (1) The owner of a prohibited dog shall securely confine a prohibited dog indoors or in a securely enclosed and locked kennel, pen or area designated to house the dog, except when the dog is leashed or muzzled as provided in subregulation (3) or (4). (2) Any structure or area used to confine a prohibited dog shall be locked with a key or combination lock when containing the dog. (3) The owner or keeper of a prohibited dog shall not permit the dog to go outside the owner or keeper’s residence or into any public area, hallway or other common area of any building, or outside a kennel, pen or enclosed area designed to house such dog, unless the dog is securely leashed with a leash no longer that four feet in length; and under such circumstances the owner or keeper shall ensure that a person is in physical control of the leash and that the dog shall not be leashed to any inanimate object such as a tree, post or building. (4) The owner or keeper of a prohibited dog shall place on the dog a muzzle sufficient to prevent the dog from biting other animals or persons whenever the dog is outside the owner or keeper’s residence or is in any public area, hallway or common area of any building or is outside of a kennel, pen or enclosed area designed to house such dog. (5) The owner or keeper of a prohibited dog shall, whenever the dog is transported within a motor vehicle, ensure that — (a) the vehicle is locked; (b) the vehicle has a closed roof; the dog cannot escape through any opening of the vehicle; (d) the vehicle is well ventilated; and (e) the dog is muzzled as provided in subregulation (4). (6) The owner or keeper of a prohibited dog shall notify the Director within five days of a prohibited dog dying or being lost or stolen. (7) The owner or keeper of a prohibited dog shall display at the premises at which the dog is kept a sign warning that there is a prohibited dog on the premises, and such sign shall be — (a) at least four inches by six inches in area; (b) rectangular in dimension; of a white background with black letters indicating “Prohibited Dog”; and (d) placed in such a position on the premises that any member of the public will be able to see such sign on approaching the premises. Regulation 9 Seizure of prohibited dogs (1) When the Director has reasonable cause to believe that a dog is a prohibited dog which has not been registered in accordance with these regulations, or that such dog is not confined, leashed or muzzled in accordance with these regulations, the Director or an animal welfare officer shall seize such dog and transport it to the Department of Agriculture where it shall be impounded. (2) The Director shall cause to be issued to the person who had possession of the dog at the time of seizure and to the owner of the dog (if different) a notice of violation containing — (a) a notice that the dog was seized; (b) the provisions of these regulations which have been violated; a notice that the owner shall send written reasons for such violations to the Director; and (d) a statement that if reasons are not sent in accordance with paragraph (c) within seven days of the date of the notice and that where the Director has reason to believe that it would be in the public interests to destroy the dog, that the Director may order that such dog be humanely destroyed. (3) If the Director cannot with due diligence locate the owner of a dog that has been seized pursuant to this paragraph, the Director shall cause the dog to be impounded for no fewer than three days; and if, after three days, no person appears to claim ownership of the dog, the Director may cause the dog to be destroyed humanely. (4) If during the time the dog is impounded the owner claims it, the Director shall cause the owner to be served with a notice as provided under subregulation (2). (5) If an owner contests the Director’s allegation that the dog is a prohibited dog, the Director shall provide evidence that the dog is a prohibited dog. (6) Where an owner is found by the Director to be in violation of these regulations the Director shall report the matter to the Legal Department for prosecution, and that owner shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a fine of four thousand dollars. Repealed

(1) A person who, in accordance with the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (SL 24 of 2025), imported a cross breed of a prohibited dog between 17th March, 2025 and the 9th April 2025, the date of the commencement of the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) (No. 2 Regulations, 2025 (SL 27 of 2025), shall be considered to have acted lawfully. (2) Where a prohibited dog that was in the Islands prior to the 9th April, 2025, the date of the commencement of the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (SL 24 of 2025), is outside of the Islands on or after the 9th April, 2025, the date of the commencement of the Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (SL 24 of 2025), an importer shall not be prohibited from importing that dog back into the Islands if the importer provides written evidence that the dog is spayed or neutered. (3) Paragraph (2) does not apply if the dog to be imported is pregnant. Publication in consolidated and revised form authorised by the Cabinet this 28th day of January, 2026. Kim Bullings Clerk of Cabinet Table of Legislation history: SL # Act/Law # Legislation Commencement Gazette 27/2025 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) (No.2) Regulations, 2025 9-Apr-2025 LG22/2025/s2 24/2025 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 17-Mar-2025 LG19/2025/s1 56/2020 Citation of Acts of Parliament Act, 2020 3-Dec-2020 LG89/2020/s1 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations (2014 Revision) 10-Oct-2024 GE75/2014/s1 12/2014 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2014 24-Mar-2014 G6/2014/s1 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations (2012 Revision) 8-Oct-2012 G21/2012/s3 5/2011 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations, 2011 16-Mar-2011 GE24/2011/s1 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) Regulations (2004 Revision) 26-Jul-2004 G15/2004/s2 22/2003 Animals (Prohibited Dogs) (Amendment) Regulations,2003 25-Aug-2003 G17/2003/s5 1/2002 9-Sep-2002 G18/2002/s1 (Price: $2.40)