Protection of Animals Act 1934
1934 CHAPTER 21
An Act to provide further protection to certain animals
[17th May 1934]
1 Prohibition of certain public contests, performances, and exhibitions with animals
(1)   No person shall promote, or cause or knowingly permit to take place any public performance which includes any episode consisting of or involving—
(a)    throwing or casting, with ropes or other appliances, any unbroken horse or untrained bull; or
(b)    wrestling, fighting, or struggling with any untrained bull; or
(c)    riding, or attempting to ride, any horse or bull which by the use of any appliance or treatment involving cruelty is, or has been, stimulated with the intention of making it buck during the performance;
and no person shall in any public performance take part in any such episode as aforesaid.
(2)   For the purposes of proceedings under paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) of the proceeding subsection, if an animal appears or is represented to spectators to be unbroken or untrained it shall lie on the defendant to prove that the animal is in fact broken or trained.
   In proceedings under paragraph (c) of the said subsection in respect of the use of any such appliance or treatment as is therein mentioned upon a horse before or during a performance, it shall be a defence for the defendant to prove that he did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to know, that the appliance or treatment was to be used.
(3)   In this section—
the meaning “horse”, and “bull” have, respectively, the same meanings as in the Protection of Animals Act 1911;
the expression “public performance” does not include a performance presented to the public by means of the cinematograph.
(4)   In the application of this section to Scotland—
the expression "horse" has the same meaning as in the Protection of Animals (Scotland) Act, 1912; and
the expression "bull" means ox as defined in that Act.
NOTES
Initial Commencement
Royal Assent
Royal Assent: 17 May 1934: (no specific commencement provision).
2 Penalties
If any person contravenes any of the provisions of the foregoing section, he shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [level 4 on the standard scale], or, alternatively, or in addition thereto, to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding three months.
NOTES
Initial Commencement
Royal Assent
Royal Assent: 17 May 1934: (no specific commencement provision).
Amendment
Maximum fine increased by the Criminal Law Act 1977, s 31, Sch 6, and converted to a level on the standard scale by the Criminal Justice Act 1982, ss 37, 46.
3 Short title and extent
(1)   This Act may be cited as the Protection of Animals Act 1934.
(2)   This Act shall not extend to Northern Ireland.
NOTES
Initial Commencement
Royal Assent
Royal Assent: 17 May 1934: (no specific commencement provision).

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