Legal background
- As set out in paragraph 4, in England, it is an offence under the Theft Act 1968 to steal a pet. The Theft Act 1968 makes it an offence for a person to dishonestly appropriate property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it. The term "property" includes kept animals of all descriptions whether kept as pets, livestock, working animals etc.
- The Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 provides for a similar offence in Northern Ireland.
- Other legislation referred to in the Act (see section 1) is as follows –
- The Environmental Protection Act 1990 sets out what a person must do if they find and take possession of a stray dog in England. Any person who takes possession of a stray dog must either return the dog to its owner or take it to the local authority for the area in which the dog was found forthwith.
- The Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 sets out what a person must do if they find and detain an unaccompanied dog in Northern Ireland. Any person who detains a dog must give notice to the police or to the district council for the district in which they reside. An officer of the district council must make arrangements for the collection of the dog.
- There are currently no statutory provisions in England or Northern Ireland requiring lost, abandoned or stray cats to be dealt with in a particular manner.
