Pet Animal Sales

The Pet Animals Act 1951, as amended in 1983, prohibits the sale of pets in a public place such as a market.

The activity of selling animals as pets from a market or public place is therefore illegal. It is not unusual to find persons selling for example caged birds and puppies at the Fair, although this tradition has reduced significantly over the last few years due to a number of successful prosecutions for such sales being taken by the RSPCA. The RSPCA in conjunction with Westmorland and Furness Council and the Police will continue to take formal action where such sales are witnessed. The Act does not relate to horses.