Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to prevent the cruel and improper Treatment of Cattle. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 3 Geo. 4. c. 71 |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 22 July 1822 |
| Commencement | 22 July 1822 |
| Repealed | 9 September 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822 (3 Geo. 4. c. 71) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom with the long title "An Act to prevent the cruel and improper Treatment of Cattle"; it is sometimes known as Martin's Act, after the MP and animal welfare campaigner Richard Martin. It is the first known piece of animal welfare legislation in the world.
The act listed "ox, cow, heifer, steer, sheep, or other cattle". This was held not to include bulls. Section 2 of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will. 4. c. 59) extended the wording of this act to remedy the issue.