Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
31Court may make further orders following findings of guilt etc
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31 Court may make further orders following findings of guilt etc
31 Court may make further orders following findings of guilt etc
(1) If a court has found a person guilty of an animal cruelty offence, or has made an order, entered a special verdict or made a qualified verdict of guilt under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, section 14, 19, 20, 31 or 62 in relation to an animal cruelty offence and the court is satisfied that, were the person to be in charge of an animal, the person would be likely to commit another animal cruelty offence, the court may make either or both of the following orders—
(a) an order for the disposal of an animal of which the person is a person in charge,
(b) a disqualification order.
(1AA) However, a court must make an order under subsection (1)(b) if the court—
(a) has found the person guilty of an offence against this Act, section 6, 15, 18 or 21 or the Crimes Act 1900, section 79, 79A, 79B, 80, 530 or 531, or
(b) has made an order, entered a special verdict or made a qualified finding of guilt under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, section 14, 19, 20, 31 or 62 in relation to an offence specified in paragraph (a), (c) or (d), or
(c) has found the person guilty of an offence against this Act, section 5 and the person has previously been found guilty of an offence against that section, or
(d) has found the person guilty of more than one offence against this Act, section 5 and the offences arose out of separate acts or omissions.
(1AB) Subsection (1AA) does not apply if the court is satisfied special circumstances justify not making the order.
(1A) An order under subsection (1)(a) may require the disposal by a date or within a period specified by the court.
(1B) An order under subsection (1)(b) ceases to have effect at the end of the period of the order specified by the court.
(2) An order under subsection (1) may be made by the court in addition to any penalty that it may otherwise impose in relation to the person concerned.