The Protection of Animals Act 1934 (24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 21) was an act of the British parliament effectively making rodeo, as it then existed, illegal in England, Scotland and Wales.[1] The law was based upon the perceived cruelty to animals exhibited at western rodeos brought by promotions such as Tex Austin's 1924 "King of the Rodeo" exhibition at Wembley Stadium in 1924, the first such program in England.[2]
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to provide further protection to certain animals. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 24 & 25 Geo. 5. c. 21 |
| Territorial extent |
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 17 May 1934 |
| Repealed | 2006 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The act was repealed and replaced by the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (c. 45) and the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 (asp 11) respectively.
Analysis
editThe first section provided that roping any unbroken horse or untrained bull was illegal. This was followed by prohibitions on "wrestling, fighting, or struggling with any untrained bull", and on stimulating a horse or bull to buck. This last provision would exclude cinch straps specifically designed to irritate the animal or a strap cinched around its genitals.[2] The prohibitions applied not only to the riders and the stock contractors preparing the animals, but to any promoter of the contests or exhibitions.
The penalties were fines of up to 100 pounds, or up to three months in gaol, per violation.
Geographic scope
editThe last section of the act provided that it was not effective for Northern Ireland.
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ Garner Robert (1993) Animals, Politics and Morality Manchester, UK, Manchester University Press, p.88, ISBN 0-7190-3574-0
- ^ a b Carson, Gerald (April 1972) "The Late, Late Frontier" American Heritage 23(3): p.75
References
edit- Protection of Animals Act 1934, Chapter 21 Geo. 5
External links
edit- Text of the Protection of Animals Act 1934 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.
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