Is it legal to buy and sell racoons in the uk?

[m1chae1]

What is the law surrounding keeping these animals as pets?
Also is it legal to enter a house that is going to be demolished and taking some junk? A neighbor has moved out and he has left many glass tanks and heating equipment that must be worth something to someone, the back window is opened so would it be okay for me to enter the property and take the tanks which will just end up in the skip anyway? Thanks.
mike.

[tommy-h]

definetely not without express approval of owner you would definetely be arrested if reported

[m1chae1]

The owner has left them and in effect chucked them them out so doesn't some kind of keepers rules apply to things that are thrown away?

[starone]

Nope - finders, keepers is definitely not legal.

[pastafreak]

No licence is needed as of 2007.

[tommy-h]

not thrown away if you can see them through window Englishman Castle etc

[m1chae1]

Okay so do i apply for a licence or do I go to the police or rspca and tell them I found them and take it from there? Maybe even phone the zoo?

[Answerprancer]

You can keep anything you like as a pet in the UK - AND scavenge all you like from abandoned houses, just don't get caught.
BTW racoons are not native to the UK, so you'd have to sedate one, put it in your hand-luggage and tell customs it's furry négligée.
We look forward to having you here.

[wolf63]

AP - what - no avatar !

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1052470.html

here is the start of the story

[Answerprancer]

Hi Canis Lupus ! No - I have issues with Gravitar.
I read the start of the story, my conclusion: troll.

[wolf63]

>>AP: No - I have issues with Gravitar. <<

This sounds nasty.

Probably a troll - but who knows these days. Real life is much stranger than fiction.

[Buenchico]

It seems that some people around here need to brush up on their law!

As long as you don't need to break in, you can lawfully enter anyone else's property at any time. (There are certain exceptions relating to, for example, railway property and military installations, but they're not relevant here). Trespass is only a civil matter, not a criminal one. (If someone leaves their front door open, you have every right to walk into their house and to look around)

You can lawfully appropriate property of another person "in the belief that he would have the other’s consent if the other knew of the appropriation and the circumstances of it". For example, if you see something thrown into a skip and you genuinely believe that the owner of the property wouldn't mind if you took it, you're not guilty of theft if you take it. (It's irrelevant as to whether the owner actually does mind. As long as you have a genuine belief that he wouldn't, you're in the clear).
http://www.legislatio...g/definition-of-theft

Chris

[Answerprancer]

...nah, and furthermore probably a looney or currently suspended poster playing games IMO.
Gravitar seem to 'store' images even if you remove them and make your profile private. An old image I posted there (but deleted ages ago) turned up automatically on a forum I recently joined.

[karenmac60]

AP - it does have a whiff of Lamtaf about it. Do you remember when he was asking questions about breeding Guinea pigs in animals, stealing guinea pigs in law and cooking guinea pigs in cooking - all at the same time? ;)

[Buenchico]

Also . . .

Possession of raccoons is illegal, under the provisions of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, unless a licence has been granted by the local authority:
http://www.legislatio...pga/1976/38/section/1

Chris

[wolf63]

AP- I don't fully understand the internet. I find it all too confusing - I can go into a site that I have never been in before and find my avatar and log-in details at the bottom of the page waiting for me.

Facebook confuses me too - but it can be a useful tool.

I think that I am getting old !

[exdc]

"Possession of raccoons is illegal, under the provisions of the Dangerous Wild....."

Blimey chris, Pet Detective :)

[m1chae1]

Thank you for all of your collective advice and help, buenchico I'm starting to have 2nd thought about keeping these animals especially after reading what a user called Clanad has said. I have updated my thread in the animal section. Thanks all.
Mike.

[wolf63]

The raccoons are no longer for sale - anybody want an adorable Sable Ferret?

http://www.theanswerb.../Question1052470.html