Dogs Act 1871 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to provide further Protection against Dogs. |
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| Citation | 34 & 35 Vict c 56 |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 July 1871 |
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Status: Amended
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| Records of Parliamentary debate relating to the statute from Hansard, at TheyWorkForYou | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Dogs Act 1871 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk | |
The Dogs Act 1871 is an important law from the United Kingdom. It was created in 1871 to help deal with dogs that are stray or dangerous. An Act of Parliament is a special rule or law made by the government. This Act helps keep people and other animals safe from dogs that might cause harm.
Contents
What the Dogs Act 1871 Does
This law has different parts, called sections. Over time, some parts of the Act have changed or been replaced by newer laws. However, one very important part of the original Act is still used today.
Dealing with Dangerous Dogs
The most important part of the Dogs Act 1871 is Section 2. This section is still in force, which means it is still a valid law today. It explains what happens if a dog is thought to be dangerous.
How a Complaint is Handled
If someone complains that a dog is dangerous, the case can go to a magistrates' court. A magistrates' court is a type of court where judges (called magistrates) hear less serious cases. They listen to the complaint and decide what should happen.
Possible Court Orders
The court has a few options for what to do about a dangerous dog:
- They can order the dog to be humanely put down. This means the dog is put to sleep by a vet in a kind way.
- They can order the owner to keep the dog under proper control. This might mean the dog has to wear a muzzle or always be on a leash.
- If the owner does not follow the court's order, they can be given a fine. A fine is money paid as a penalty.
What Happened to Other Parts of the Act?
Some parts of the Dogs Act 1871 are no longer in use. They have been replaced by newer laws that deal with the same topics.
Stray Dogs
Section 1 of the Act used to deal with stray dogs. These are dogs that are lost or have no owner. This part of the law was later replaced by the Dogs Act 1906. The 1906 Act created new rules for how to handle stray dogs.
Rabid Dogs
Section 3 of the Act talked about dogs with rabies. Rabies is a very serious disease that can affect animals and humans. This part of the law was replaced by the Rabies Act 1974. The 1974 Act brought in more modern ways to control and prevent rabies.
