Legal Definition and Related Resources of Animals

(1) Domitae naturae or mansuctac naturae. Animals of a tame or domesticated nature, e.g., horses and cattle. The owner is not liable for any injury they may do when lawfully upon a highway unless he is negligent. If, however, they are trespassing the owner is liable for the ordinary consequences of such a trespass, i. e., for such damage as the animal may from its nature be expected to do, and he is not liable for the vicious acts of an animal of an ordinarily quiet nature unless he knew that it was vicious. (1 Sm. L. C. 922.)
But the owner of a dog is liable for damage to horses, cattle, etc., without proof of knowledge of viciousness. (Dogs Act, 1906.)
(2) Ferae naturae. Animals of a wild nature, e.g., lions, deer. The owner keeps them at his peril and is liable for any injury which they may do, unless the person to whom injury is done brings it on himself. (1 Sm. L. C. 923.) There can be no more than a qualified ownership in animals ferae naturae y i. e., only so long as they are in possession. They could not be the subject of larceny at common law; but see now the Larceny Act, 1916, s. 1, sub-s. 3. See Cox v. Burbidge; Ellis v. Loftus Iron Co.; May v. Burdett

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Animals in Historical Law

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English Legal System: Animals

In the context of the English law, A Dictionary of Law provides the following legal concept of Animals :

See classification of animals.