Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976
Encyclopedia
The Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 (22 July) is a law of the United Kingdom
that was originally enacted to deal with the increasing fashion in the late 1960s and early 1970s of people keeping interesting pets which were often from the more dangerous species, as well as hybrids between wild and domestic species, such as wolfdog
s and Bengal cat
s. It was increasingly seen as unacceptable -- in regards to public safety
-- for the average citizen to be able to acquire a potentially dangerous animal without some form of regulatory control.
Its purpose was to ensure that when private individuals kept dangerous wild animals they do so in circumstances which do not create risk to the public and safeguard the welfare of the animals.
The Act's schedule designates the species covered, such as many primates, carnivore
s, larger or venomous reptiles, dangerous spiders and scorpion
s. Keeping such animals without a licence is unlawful and the state is also allowed to specify where and how the animal is to be kept. This law also requires keepers to have their animals covered by a satisfactory liability insurance policy.
Where the local authority grant a licence it shall impose conditions on the licence covering issues such as:
Law of the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has three legal systems. English law, which applies in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland law, which applies in Northern Ireland, are based on common-law principles. Scots law, which applies in Scotland, is a pluralistic system based on civil-law principles, with common law...
that was originally enacted to deal with the increasing fashion in the late 1960s and early 1970s of people keeping interesting pets which were often from the more dangerous species, as well as hybrids between wild and domestic species, such as wolfdog
Wolfdog
A wolfdog is a canid hybrid resulting from the mating of a wolf and a dog . The term "wolfdog" is preferred by most of the animals' proponents and breeders because the domestic dog recently was taxonomically recategorized as a subspecies of wolf...
s and Bengal cat
Bengal Cat
Bengal Cat may refer to:*Leopard Cat*Bengal , a domestic cat breed...
s. It was increasingly seen as unacceptable -- in regards to public safety
Public Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
-- for the average citizen to be able to acquire a potentially dangerous animal without some form of regulatory control.
Its purpose was to ensure that when private individuals kept dangerous wild animals they do so in circumstances which do not create risk to the public and safeguard the welfare of the animals.
The Act's schedule designates the species covered, such as many primates, carnivore
Carnivora
The diverse order Carnivora |Latin]] carō "flesh", + vorāre "to devour") includes over 260 species of placental mammals. Its members are formally referred to as carnivorans, while the word "carnivore" can refer to any meat-eating animal...
s, larger or venomous reptiles, dangerous spiders and scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
s. Keeping such animals without a licence is unlawful and the state is also allowed to specify where and how the animal is to be kept. This law also requires keepers to have their animals covered by a satisfactory liability insurance policy.
How it works
Licences are required for any animal listed on a schedule under the door. These licences will only be granted when the authority is satisfied that it would not be contrary to public interest, not on the grounds of safety or nuisance and that the animal's accommodation is adequate and secure.Where the local authority grant a licence it shall impose conditions on the licence covering issues such as:
- a requirement that the animal be kept only by a person or persons named on the licence;
- restrictions on the movement of the animal from the premises as specified on the licence; and
- A requirement that the licence holder has a current insurance policy which ensures both licence holders and others against any liability caused by the animal.