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Decision of the Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities

No. (4) of 2018

Regarding the Issuance of the Executive Regulations of Law No. (2) of 2012

(Animal Control)

The Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities,

- Having reviewed Law No. (1) of 1974 regarding the reorganization of the government apparatus in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amending laws.

- And Law No. (23) of 2007 regarding the establishment of the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council and its amending law.

- And Law No. (2) of 2012 regarding the preservation of public appearance, health, and tranquility in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

- And Law No. (13) of 2016 regarding the establishment of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport.

- And the Decision of the Chairman of the Executive Council No. (2) of 2016 regarding the Executive Regulations of Law No. (2) of 2012 on preserving public appearance, health, and tranquility in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Animal Control).

- And Emiri Decree No. (13) of 2017 regarding the restructuring of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

- And based on what was presented to the Executive Council, and the approval of the Council thereof.

Hereby decides as follows:

Article (1)

For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Decision, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context indicates otherwise:

Article (2)

The provisions of this Decision shall apply to all animals present in the Emirate, including:

1. Ornamental animals and birds.

2. Companion animals.

3. Unfamiliar animals.

4. Dangerous animals.

5. Prohibited animals.

6. Stray and roaming animals.

Article (3)

The Concerned Municipality shall be responsible for the following:

1. Regulating the control, ownership, and trade of animals and their management in accordance with the provisions of these executive regulations.

2. Granting the necessary health approval for animal sales shops and animal shelters in accordance with the conditions and procedures issued by the Department, and monitoring their compliance with the relevant requirements.

3. Granting animal registration certificates for the ownership, keeping, and sheltering of animals in accordance with the conditions and procedures specified by the Department.

4. Designating suitable areas within public places where animals are allowed, with these areas being identified by signs.

5. Establishing animal shelters equipped with the necessary equipment and tools to provide comprehensive healthcare for animals.

6. Providing means of identification for animals after their registration with the concerned municipality or authorized bodies.

7. Collecting and impounding stray and roaming animals found in public places and announcing them through available means for a period of 7 working days. If the owner does not come forward, these animals will be dealt with within 7 working days.

8. Establishing a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) system for young, stray, and roaming domestic animals that are free from disease, whose owner has not appeared, or which have been surrendered to the animal shelter.

9. Establishing a system that allows interested individuals to adopt companion animals.

10. Disposing of stray animals infected with a contagious disease that cannot be treated by euthanizing them according to methods specified in coordination with the concerned authorities.

11. Establishing a system of capture, reporting, and then public auction for stray and roaming farm animals whose owner has not appeared or which have been surrendered.

12. Establishing a system of capture and release into reserves or handing over to zoos and scientific and environmental bodies for wild, dangerous, and prohibited animals whose owner has not appeared, or which have been surrendered, or disposing of them according to humane euthanasia methods specified in coordination with the concerned authorities.

Article (4)

For the purposes of implementing the provisions of this Decision, the following acts shall be considered violations:

First: Individuals

1. Keeping animals (other than companion animals) in villas and residential apartments without a permit from the concerned municipality.

2. Taking animals out without a collar, leash, or any suitable means of control.

3. Taking large or fierce dogs out without a muzzle covering the snout.

4. Having an animal handled by individuals who are unable to control it.

5. Failing to place a warning sign at the entrance of the residence or farm if there is a dog inside.

6. Taking animals to shopping centers and restaurants.

7. Failure by owners of buildings and residential complexes to post a sign or sticker indicating whether animals are allowed or not.

8. Owning, possessing, or sheltering animals without registration from the concerned municipality.

9. Taking or leaving dangerous, prohibited, or unfamiliar animals in public places.

10. Lack of certificates proving that animals have been periodically examined by a licensed veterinarian and have received the necessary preventive and curative veterinary services to ensure the animal is free from zoonotic diseases.

11. Failure to vaccinate animals annually against common diseases and provide them with periodic treatments at licensed veterinary clinics.

12. Engaging in the sale or purchase of animals without obtaining the necessary licenses and approvals from the concerned municipality.

13. Allowing an animal to be in prohibited places.

14. Allowing an animal to threaten the safety of people in public places.

15. Releasing an animal with the intent of abandoning it.

Second: Animal Sales Shops

1. Operating a shop for the sale, trade, and breeding of animals without a permit from the concerned municipality.

2. Failure to contract with a licensed veterinary clinic to provide necessary veterinary and preventive services for the animals on a regular basis.

3. Failure to vaccinate companion animals for sale against common diseases or to provide them with periodic treatments.

4. Failure to report notifiable epidemic diseases as specified by applicable legislation.

5. Failure to isolate a sick animal in a special shelter for treatment.

6. Lack of cleanliness in the animal shelter.

7. Offering a sick animal for sale, or one without a valid vaccination certificate proving it is free from epidemic and contagious diseases.

8. Failure to provide instructional guidelines explaining the animal's care requirements at the time of sale.

9. Failure to provide special safety and protection equipment, such as protective clothing for workers and first aid for those present in the sales shops.

10. Publishing advertisements for the sale and purchase of animals through any means of publication without obtaining a license from the concerned municipality.

11. Selling animals to persons under 18 years of age.

12. Selling or displaying animals or ornamental birds in open markets or on sidewalks and roads.

13. Selling and trading dangerous or prohibited animals.

14. Organizing auctions, exhibitions, competitions, or shows for animals, whether for commercial or any other purposes, including for advertisements or decoration, without a permit from the concerned municipality.

15. Releasing an animal with the intent of abandoning it.

16. Selling an unregistered animal in accordance with applicable legislation.

17. Placing more than one type of animal in the same cage.

18. Mistreating an animal and failing to provide it with the necessary care and a suitable environment.

19. Allowing unauthorized persons to handle an animal without the supervision of the person in charge of the shop.

Article (5)

Without prejudice to the right of the judicial officer to issue an immediate violation report according to the nature of the violation, the following procedures shall be followed:

1. A warning shall be issued to the violator to rectify the violation within seven days before the penalties stipulated in Article (7) of this Decision are imposed.

2. A settlement shall be offered to the violator in light of the provisions of the Law and this Decision, and this shall be recorded in the violation report.

3. The violator shall be notified of the decision to remove the violation at his declared address by all legal means within seven days from the date of the settlement or the end of its period.

Article (6)

The concerned municipality shall take the following measures:

1. Seek the assistance of the concerned authorities through the judicial officer to remove the violation after the expiration of the period specified in the third clause of the preceding article, at the violator's expense.

2. Prepare an account of the expenses, set a due date for payment, and inform the violator thereof.

Article (7)

1. The schedule of violations and fines attached to this Decision shall be enforced.

2. Unless otherwise provided in the schedule of violations and fines, anyone who violates the provisions of Article (4) of this Decision shall be punished with a fine of not less than (200) AED and not more than (10,000) AED, and the fine shall be doubled in case of repetition.

3. In all cases, the violator is obliged to remove the causes of the violation whenever necessary.

Article (8)

This Decision shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into effect from the date of its publication.

Falah Mohammed Al Ahbabi

Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities

Issued in Abu Dhabi:

Date: 19 Rabi' al-Thani 1439 H

Corresponding to: 7 January 2018 AD

Schedule of Violations and Fines

Attached to the Decision of the Chairman of the Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities

No. (4) of 2018

(Animal Control)