http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/16/section/1Pet Abduction Act 2024Statute Law Database2024-08-27Expert Participation2024-08-24 11A person (A) commits the offence of dog abduction if they—atake a dog so as to remove it from the lawful control of any person, orbdetain a dog so as to keep it from the lawful control of any person who is entitled to have lawful control of it,and A and the dog are both in England or Northern Ireland at the time the dog is taken or detained.2The offence of dog abduction is not committed if—aat any time before the taking or detention of the dog—ithe person (A) who took or detained the dog,iithe person (B) from whose lawful control it was taken or detained, andiiithe dog,all lived together in the same household,bA and B had been living together before the dog began to live with them,cA and B subsequently ceased to live together, anddA took or detained the dog at or after the time when A and B ceased to live together.3It is a defence for a person charged with the offence of dog abduction to show that the person had lawful authority or a reasonable excuse for taking or detaining the dog.4In relation to England, it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of dog abduction by virtue of subsection (1)(b) to show that the person—abelieved that the dog was a stray dog,btook all reasonable steps to comply with section 150(1) of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 (delivery of stray dogs to owner or officer of local authority), andcdid not detain the dog for more than 96 hours (disregarding any period during which it is kept by virtue of section 150(2)(a) of that Act).5In relation to Northern Ireland, it is a defence for a person charged with the offence of dog abduction by virtue of subsection (1)(b) to show that the person—afound the dog in accordance with Article 24(1) of the Dogs (Northern Ireland) Order 1983 (S.I. 1983/764 (N.I. 8)) (finding of unaccompanied dog),bgave the notice required by Article 24(2) of that Order, andctook all reasonable steps to comply with arrangements for the collection of the dog made under Article 24(3) of that Order.6A person is taken to have shown a fact mentioned in subsection (3), (4) or (5) if—asufficient evidence of the fact is adduced to raise an issue with respect to it, andbthe contrary is not proved beyond reasonable doubt.7A person who commits the offence of dog abduction is liable—aon summary conviction in England and Wales, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding the general limit in a magistrates’ court, or a fine, or both;bon summary conviction in Northern Ireland, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or a fine not exceeding the statutory maximum, or both;con conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or a fine, or both.8In this section—areferences to a person taking a dog include the person—icausing or inducing the dog to accompany the person or anyone else, oriicausing the dog to be taken, andbreferences to a person detaining a dog include the person—icausing or inducing the dog to remain with the person or anyone else, oriicausing the dog to be detained.S. 1 in force at 24.8.2024 for E.W., see s. 6(1)S. 1 in force at 24.8.2024 for N.I. by S.R. 2024/156, art. 2(a)