Your Pets Daily - Pet Abduction Bill

Pet Abduction Bill “a desperately needed safety net” for nation’s pets, says animal charity

Your Pets Daily Editor — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:00:00 +0000

The UK's biggest cat charity Cats Protection has again welcomed the Pet Abduction Bill after it cleared another hurdle through parliament today.

The Bill – proposed by Anna Firth MP – will give cats and their owners greater protection in law and help prevent pet theft.

Annabel Berdy, Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Cats Protection said: "This proposed law is a desperately needed safety net for the nation's pets, helping to stamp out the criminals who prey on much-loved animals. Pet abduction is a particularly nasty crime, often leaving owners in permanent limbo about the fate of their pets and putting the animals themselves at high risk of mistreatment.

"Currently, the theft of an animal is regarded in law as being level with the theft of a mobile phone – and that is clearly not the case. Pets are not merely property – they are sentient beings, capable of suffering pain and fear, and are utterly irreplaceable to their owners. A new and specific offence will also enable police to build an accurate picture of pet theft across England and Northern Ireland by requiring a specific log, as opposed to the current situation where pet theft is recorded as property theft."

The charity added that the new law would help tackle the backstreet market in purebred cats and kittens, driven by a growing demand for pedigrees.

Annabel said: "More than 40 per cent of all cats obtained in the last 12 months were pedigree, and criminals will no doubt capitalise on this demand. They may target pedigree cats for onward sale, or – if they're unneutered – keep them as breeding animals to produce litter after litter of kittens to sell.

"We're hugely encouraged to see the Pet Abduction Bill making such swift progress through parliament and will be working tirelessly with other animal charities and politicians to push it forwards. We cannot let this important opportunity to protect pets and owners slip through our hands."

Cats Protection is the UK's leading cat welfare charity and has helped an average of 157,000 cats and kittens a year over the last five years through its national network which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.

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Pet Abduction Bill

The Kennel Club welcomes new Pet Abduction Bill

Jessica Curtis — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 20:00:00 +0000

The Kennel Club, one of the UK's biggest organisations dedicated to dog health and welfare, has welcomed the Government's support for introducing a specific criminal offence for those who steal pets.

Under the Pet Abduction Bill – a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Anna Firth MP – anyone found guilty of stealing a pet will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Currently, sentencing places undue weighting on the monetary value of the pet rather than giving sufficient weight to the emotional impact of the crime, meaning it is often treated in the same way as the theft of a laptop or mobile phone. There is also no central record in order to help decision-makers understand the scale of the problem or the circumstances around it – for example, whether a theft was driven by opportunism or organised crime.

Mark Beazley, Chief Executive at The Kennel Club, commented: "We wholeheartedly welcome this Bill, which would introduce a new and specific offence to tackle pet theft, and highly commend the hard and persistent work of every organisation who has been raising awareness of this issue and calling for action for many years. We hope that this Bill moves swiftly through parliament and helps to deliver justice for both the poor dogs and families victim to this devastating crime, and protect the nation's much-loved pets."

The Kennel Club has long campaigned on the issue of pet theft, lobbying for sentencing to recognise the emotional value of a dog and for better reporting and recording from officials so that underlying causes of dog theft can be tackled. Its 'Paw and Order' campaign, launched after lockdown to urge action, illustrated the need for reform and spurred thousands of dog lovers across the UK to write to their MP. Statistics gathered as part of the campaign showed the failure to tackle a crime that is devastating nearly 200 families every month, as just two per cent of dog theft cases in 2020 resulted in a criminal charge.

Further information about the campaign and current laws around pet theft, and advice on keeping dogs safe, is available on The Kennel Club's website: thekennelclub.org.uk/dogtheft

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Dogs Trust CEO responds to Anna Firth MP's proposed Pet Abduction Bill

Tom Stone — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Following yesterday's discussion of Anna Firth MP’s Pet Abduction Bill in Houses of Parliament, which would create a specific crime of pet abduction, Dogs Trusts Chief Executive, Owen Sharp, has issued the following response:

“Having your beloved pet stolen is an extremely stressful, heart-breaking experience. However, despite the obvious emotional impact pet theft has on families and owners, under current legislation, it is treated no differently to mobile phone or laptop theft.

“For years, Dogs Trust has called for harsher penalties to deter those who profit from this despicable crime, and for the emotional impact pet theft has on owners to be recognised in law.

“We are therefore pleased to see the Pet Abduction Bill discussed today, and we are looking forward to supporting its passage through Parliament. This Bill represents a first step in the right direction to tackle pet theft and prioritise the welfare of our pets as sentient beings.”

For more information on preventing dog theft and what to do if your dog is stolen, please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/life-with-your-dog/outdoors/dog-theft-advice

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Cats Protection welcomes Pet Abduction Bill

Jessica Curtis — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 20:00:00 +0000

The UK's biggest cat charity Cats Protection has welcomed the Pet Abduction Bill, following its second reading today.

The charity says the Private Members Bill - proposed by Anna Firth MP – would give cats and their owners greater protection in law and help prevent pet theft.

In particular, the proposals would help tackle the backstreet market in purebred cats and kittens, driven by a growing demand for pedigrees.

Cats Protection's Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer Annabel Berdy said: "No matter what the animal, pet abduction is a particularly abhorrent crime, leaving owners devastated and pets at high risk of mistreatment. Most cat owners share a deep emotional bond with their pet and consider them part of the family. When cats are stolen, it rips that companionship away, and leaves owners living with the nightmare of not knowing how their cat is being treated or if they'll ever be reunited.

"More than 40% of all cats obtained in the last 12 months were pedigree, and this hasn't gone un-noticed by those who want to profit in animal trade at any cost. These unscrupulous sellers will be looking to profit either by selling stolen cats to unsuspecting buyers, or keeping them to breed kittens for onward sale. Clearly, we are incredibly concerned about the welfare of these cats and kittens and this proposed law has the potential to be a much-needed deterrent to stamp out this market.

"We look forward to continuing to work with other animal charities and politicians to help push this Bill forwards and bring about better protections for pet owners and pets alike."

Cats Protection is the UK's leading feline welfare charity and has helped an average of 157,000 cats and kittens a year over the last five years through its national network which includes around 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.

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