23. Probationary owners---(1) Classification as a probationary owner
 shall, unless earlier terminated by the territorial authority, continue
 until 24 months after the date of the offence or, as the case may be,
 the date of the third infringement offence, in respect of which the
 classification was made.

   (2) No person who is for the time being classified as a probationary
 owner shall be capable of being the registered owner of any dog unless
 that person was the registered owner of that dog on the date of the
 offence or, as the case may be, the date of the third infringement
 offence, in respect of which the classification was made.

   (3) A surcharge of 50 percent shall be added to all dog control fees
 payable by a probationary owner in respect of the period of
 classification.

   (4) Where the period of classification includes only part of a
 registration year, a surcharge of 5 percent of the annual dog control
 fees shall be payable for each entire month of that year during which
 the classification continues.

   (5) Where classification as a probationary owner occurs after dog
 control fees for any year have been paid, the surcharge under this
 section shall be payable within 4 weeks after the date on which notice
 of that classification is, under section 21 (4) of this Act, given to
 that probationary owner.

   (6) Where any surcharge is not paid within the period of 4 weeks
 prescribed by subsection (5) of this section, the dog in respect of
 which the surcharge is payable shall, at the end of that period, cease
 to be registered under this Act.

   (7) Where classification as a probationary owner is terminated by the
 territorial authority under section 22 (4) of this Act, the territorial
 authority shall refund the amount of any surcharge paid in respect of
 the period after the date of that decision.