24.— The Act of 1986 is amended by substituting the following section for section 7:

“7.— (1) A dog licence shall be in the prescribed form and shall be valid—

(a) at the option of the person to whom it is issued, for—

(i) a period of 12 months, or

(ii) any longer period standing prescribed for the time being,

from the date of its issue, or

(b) at the option of the person to whom it is issued, for a period that is contemporaneous with the remainder of the lifetime of the dog in respect of which the licence is issued.

(2) A general dog licence shall be in the prescribed form and shall be valid, at the option of the person to whom it is issued, for the period of 12 months, or any longer period standing prescribed for the time being, from the date of its issue.”.