The Application
Conditions
Powers of entry
Court Actions
KINDS OF DANGEROUS WILD
ANIMIALS
Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Invertibrates
The Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 was passed to regulate the
keeping of certain kinds of dangerous wild animals. The Act
prohibits the keeping of named animals without a licence granted by
the Local Authority. Exceptions include zoos, circuses, and
licensed pet shops. However, there is no exception or mitigation
when only a few very young animals are kept. For example, a newly
born tiger requires a licence as much as a cage of adult
tigers.
A person is the keeper is he has it in his possession; for those
times when an animal cannot be said to be in the possession anybody
it is treated as being in the possession of the person who last had
it in his possession.
The animals for which a licence is required are (See
List).
The Application
Any application must:
a) Specify the species of animal and the number of each species
proposed to keep.
b) Specify the premises where any animal will be normally
kept.
c) Be made by a person who is 18 years old or who has not
been disqualified from keeping any dangerous wild animal.
The Council must also satisfy itself that:-
a) It is not contrary to the public interest on the grounds of
safety, or nuisance.
b) The applicant is a suitable person to hold it.
c) The animal’s accommodation is escape proof, and suitable.
d) The animal will be suitably fed and visited at appropriate
intervals.
e) The animal is protected.
f) Precautions are taken to prevent and control the spread of
infectious diseases.
g) The animal can take adequate exercise.
To ensure the above, the Council must consider a report by a
vet. Also the licence can only be issued to the person who owns and
possesses the animal.
Even if all these pre-requisites are met, the grant or refusal
of a licence is entirely within the Council’s discretion.
The licence will last from the day it was granted to the end of
the current calendar year. Every renewal will run from 1st January
to 31st December.
The fee is £228 for a new application and £93 for a
renewal.
NB Fees stated are for the period 1 April 2008 - 31 March
2009.
Conditions
Any licence issued must include conditions about a number of
matters detailed in the Act (including insurance against public
liability for damage caused by the animal). The Council may also
add its own conditions.
Contravention or non-compliance with a condition is an
offence.
There is a right of appeal to a magistrate’s court against:
a) The Council’s refusal to grant a licence
b) A condition of the licence, whether imposed when it was
granted or later;
c) The variation or revocation of a condition.
Powers of
entry
Powers of entry to, and inspection of premises that have a
licence are given to vets and others with written authorisation
from the Council. To obstruct or delay is an offence. A reasonable
charge for the inspection may be charged to the licensee.
If a dangerous wild animal is kept without a licence, or a
condition is contravened, the Council may seize it, keep it or
destroy it. The Council’s costs are recoverable.
Court Actions
In addition to fining a person for an offence under the Act, the
court may cancel the licence and disqualify the holder from keeping
any dangerous wild animal. These sanctions can also be imposed for
convictions for offences against certain other Acts relating to
animals. The court’s order is subject to an appeal.
Licences to keep dangerous wild animals are issued under the
Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 and are renewable
annually. For further information, please contact the
Licensing seciton on 01225 477531 or email licensing@bathnes.gov.uk.
