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MSPs and their dogs compete for prestigious Holyrood Dog of the Year title

Your Pets Daily Editor — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 15:00:00 +0000

On Monday 29th April, 13 MSPs will go paw-to-paw to win the coveted title of 'Holyrood Dog of the Year' 2024.

Dogs of all shapes and sizes, regardless of breed, creed or 'pawlitical' persuasion, will be strutting their stuff with their MSP owners, as they head to the Scottish Parliament gardens at Horse Wynd, Edinburgh, to see who will be crowned top dog.

Organised jointly by The Kennel Club and Dogs Trust, the competition celebrates the unique bond between dogs and their owners and offers the opportunity for MSPs to show off their loyal canine companions.

The 2024 contenders vying for a vote are as follows:

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Scottish Liberal Democrats MSP for Edinburgh Western, and his Cockapoo, Bramble
Clare Adamson, Scottish National Party MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw, and her Labrador Retriever, Sam
Christine Grahame, Scottish National Party MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, and her canine friend, a rescue Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Bagel
Emma Harper, Scottish National Party MSP for South Scotland, and a Dogs Trust rescue dog
Finlay Carson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, and Corrie his Labrador Retriever
Jackie Dunbar, Scottish National Party MSP for Aberdeen Donside, and her Cocker Spaniel, Fergus
Jamie Halcro Johnston, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP for Highlands and Islands, and a Dogs Trust rescue dog
Jenni Minto, Scottish National Party MSP for Argyll and Bute, and her Border Collie, Jim
Marie McNair, Scottish National Party MSP for Clydebank and Milngavie, and her Biewer Terrier, Heidi
Meghan Gallacher, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP for Central Scotland, and a Dogs Trust rescue dog
Paul Sweeney, Scottish Labour MSP for Glasgow, and his Cavapoo, Bru
Shirley-Anne Somerville, Scottish National Party MSP for Dunfermline and her Cockapoo, Oscar
Sue Webber, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party MSP for Lothian, and her Hungarian Vizsla, Alfie

This year's competition is all about celebrating the unique bond between humans and their canine companions and the positive impact that dog ownership can bring into our lives. The event also encourages open dialogue on dog welfare issues, as well as providing an opportunity for MSPs to meet with experts to discuss all aspects of the canine world.

MSPs are also calling for their supporters to vote for them online, in a bid to win the 'pawblic' vote, with additional judging on the day which will review the contestants on their good dog deeds and winning personalities, and one lucky dog will take home the ultimate parliamentary privilege of the 'Holyrood Dog of the Year 2024' title.

To find out more about the competing MSPs and their dogs, and to vote for Holyrood Dog of the Year, visit thekennelclub.org.uk/hdoty

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Holyrood Dog of the Year

The Kennel Club

Dogs Trust responds to new Scottish Housing Bill

Tom Stone — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 07:00:00 +0000

In response to the recent publication of details of the Scottish government's new Housing Bill, Claire Wilson-Leary, Public Affairs Manager at Dogs Trust, says:

'We welcome proposals within the Housing (Scotland) Bill that, if passed, will mean landlords cannot unreasonably refuse consent for private tenants to keep a pet. We have long called for stronger rights for responsible dog owning tenants to be able to keep a pet.

"We will be engaging with the Scottish Government to clarify details of when it would be reasonable for landlords to refuse consent to ensure that tenants are not unjustly denied the right to keep a pet.    

  "We are also pleased to see that the Bill includes provisions to support social housing tenants who are experiencing domestic abuse. Through Freedom, we support dog owners experiencing domestic abuse, and we will continue to advocate for them so that tenants fleeing domestic abuse are also considered.'

Dogs Trust has been campaigning for many years for greater rights for responsible dog owners who rent. Around one in ten people contacting Dogs Trust to rehome their dog cite issues with accommodation, such as being unable to find suitable rental accommodation, forcing them to make the difficult decision to rehome their dog. 

Research conducted by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection revealed that landlords are currently split on whether they currently allow pets, with 48% of Scottish landlords saying they allow pets. However, the number of Scottish tenants saying their tenancy allows pets is much lower than this, with just 28% saying their landlord would allow a dog in the property. 

The same research revealed that, in over a third of cases across the UK, where cats or dogs have not been allowed by a private landlord, the landlord did not proactively decide this based on the individual tenants or pets, but either followed advice or a used a standard template.  

Allowing pets in rental properties is not just good for the tenants; there are advantages to landlords too as it could increase the length of time tenants choose to rent a property. Research by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection found that 30% of Scottish tenants would stay longer in a property if they were allowed to keep a pet.  

To increase the availability of pet friendly properties, Dogs Trust has been providing advice and resources to pet owners, landlords and letting agencies for more than a decade through its Lets with Pets scheme. For tips and advice on how to become a pet friendly landlord and how to find pet friendly accommodation, visit www.letswithpets.org.uk/.

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Housing (Scotland) Bill

Britain’s most unwanted dog finally finds his forever home

Jessica Curtis — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 20:00:00 +0000

A dog once referred to in the media as Britain's most unwanted has finally found his forever home after spending more than 1,700 days in the care of Dogs Trust Leeds.

Lurcher Jake first arrived at Dogs Trust in 2015, aged just one. However, even at that early age, he had been passed around several homes before arriving in the care of the Dogs Trust team. The charity found him a new home, but he was returned to kennels in 2019 after a change in his new owner's circumstances, and following his return, Jake failed to attract any new owners, despite the charity receiving thousands of applications for other dogs in their care.

Jake was a firm favourite at the rehoming centre, described by the staff caring for him as one of the sweetest dogs you could ever wish to meet, with a playful and affectionate nature. However, due to his tricky start in life, Jake lacked confidence around dogs and people and had very specific rehoming requirements, meaning he was overlooked by potential adopters.

The team at Dogs Trust Leeds spent many hours working with Jake to help him overcome these issues, using their expertise in behaviour to create a bespoke training programme to build his trust with new people, and develop his social skills around other dogs.

One of the unique techniques the Dogs Trust team implemented was taking Jake for weekends away to take part in different activities including hiking on the moors, and to spend nights away from his kennel to help build his confidence in new environments, all designed to get ready for rehoming.

A video of Jake enjoying a weekend hiking in Wensleydale with one of his carers, Kevin Johnson, was spotted by Keighley couple, Veronica and Keith. They instantly felt a connection with this lovely lurcher and contacted Dogs Trust to offer him a home. The charity's assessments confirmed that their home and lifestyle were exactly what Jake needed, and work began to introduce the nervous pooch to his new owners.

As Jake was such a worried boy, Veronica and Keith worked with the rehoming centre staff to slowly build up their relationship. Initially they visited the rehoming centre weekly to spend time with Jake, gradually progressing to off-site walks. Following the success of these initial meetings, he then started spending time in Veronica and Keith's home, including some overnight stays.

After three months of successful introductions, Jake moved into his new home in February 2024. He has settled into home life perfectly, and his training and confidence has come on in leaps and bounds.

Jake's new owner Veronica says:

"I knew the moment that I saw the video of Jake on his holidays that I wanted him to come and live with us. He'd had a tough start to life and lacked in confidence, but it was clear from our first meeting that he was an affectionate and friendly dog who just needed someone to give him a chance.

"The introduction process was quite long, but it was important we moved at a pace Jake was happy with, and the staff at Dogs Trust Leeds supported us through it all.

"We love having Jake in our home. It feels like he's been with us forever, and we couldn't imagine life without him!"

Kevin Johnson, one of the team at Dogs Trust Leeds who cared for Jake, says:

"Jake is such a lovely boy, and we've loved spending time with him in the centre. But four years is too long for any dog to be with us, and we were desperate to find him his forever home.

"We were delighted when Veronica and Keith got in touch with us about Jake, and even more pleased that they understood his adoption wouldn't be a quick process. After so much upheaval in his life, and then spending so long in a rehoming centre, he needed time to adjust to a new way of living.

"Before he left the rehoming centre for the last time, all his best friends gathered in his garden for a little goodbye party, and we were joined by current and former Dogs Trust staff who had cared for Jake over the years.

"Jake literally bounced out of the car, straight into his new home and on to the sofa. I'm not ashamed to say there was quite the lump in my throat. Seeing him happily and confidently standing at his new home front door with his family as we left was so emotional!"

During his time with Dogs Trust, Jake was classed as an "Underdog", the name the charity gives to dogs that have been in its care for six months or more. The charity currently has over 400 Underdogs in its care patiently waiting for new homes. These dogs often are looking for a very specific home and usually have additional training needs or require ongoing veterinary treatment, meaning they are overlooked by many adopters. Dogs Trust supports every new owner throughout the adoption process, and for as long as they need us once the dog is in their home.

For more information on some of the Underdogs currently in the care of Dogs Trust, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk/underdogs.

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MP Selaine Saxby supports leading dog welfare charity Dogs Trust's plea to end cruel puppy smuggling trade

Tom Stone — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000

Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, has vowed to tackle the issue of puppy smuggling.

The Conservative MP is due to have the 2nd reading of her Private Members Bill – Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats & Ferrets) Bill in Parliament on 15 March, which would help tackle the puppy smuggling trade.

Today, the UK's leading dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust hosted a parliamentary event in the House of Commons, to mark more than ten years of the charity's efforts to end puppy smuggling.

The Dogs Trust team spoke to over 100 MPs about their pioneering Puppy Pilot scheme, which was introduced in 2015 to aid the interception of illegally imported puppies and provide care and rehabilitation for them until they find loving new homes.

The charity also discussed their recent 'Tragic Tales & The Decade of Delay' campaign, which featured four real life case studies of dogs who have been helped via the Puppy Pilot.

Attending MPs pledged to help Dogs Trust end puppy smuggling and agreed to support Selaine Saxby's Private Member's Bill.

Claire Calder, Head of Public Affairs at Dogs Trust, said:

"We are delighted that Selaine has committed to taking forward a Bill to finally tackle the cruel Puppy Smuggling trade.

"We have been campaigning for over 10 years to end the suffering of countless numbers of dogs caught up in this abhorrent trade, and we hope this marks a real step forward for dog welfare in the UK.

"Today's event was a fantastic success; we spoke to over 100 MPs about this important issue."

Selaine Saxby, MP for North Devon, said:

"For over ten years Dogs Trust has been working hard to end the cruel puppy smuggling trade, and today's event was a great opportunity for MPs to talk to Dogs Trust staff and learn about their work.

"Since being elected in 2019, I have supported Dogs Trust on this issue, and with my Private Members Bill, I am committed to delivering part of the original Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, to help end the cruel puppy smuggling trade."

To find out more about Dogs Trust's work to end puppy smuggling, visit - https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/about-us/what-we-do/our-views/puppy-smuggling

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Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs

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Puppy smuggling

Cats & Ferrets) Bill

Fostering nearly 100 rescue dogs reignites Wiltshire woman's passion for painting

Jessica Curtis — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000

A woman from Wiltshire is approaching an impressive milestone, having fostered almost 100 dogs from the UK's largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust.

Jo Heather, a mother-of-two from Salisbury, has taken care of dogs - large, small, young and old - as part of Dogs Trust's Home from Home foster scheme.

Jo is one of over 500 foster carers across the country who care for a dog temporarily in their own home, whilst Dogs Trust looks for their forever home.

As a result of volunteering with Dogs Trust, Jo has also reignited her passion for art – and has taken up painting and sketching the dogs in her care.

The 56-year-old fostered her first pup in 2017, after becoming involved with the charity because of her daughters love of dogs, and she hasn't looked back since.

Jo said:

"When my daughters Emeline and Chloe were younger, they were always talking about dogs. Our local Dogs Trust rehoming centre is about a 15-minute drive from us, so we used to pop in with little donations, blankets, dog biscuits - things like that.

"And then one day we were in, I noticed a poster looking for fosterers and that's where it started. I never imagined we'd end up fostering as many as we have."

Aside from freeing up much needed kennel space at Dogs Trust centres, and providing a loving temporary home for dogs, becoming a fosterer had another positive outcome for Jo – it reignited her love of painting.

Jo added:

"I started thinking: I've got a little bit of time here – the dogs are happily sleeping so I can sketch them and paint away and that's how it happened really.

"I don't know how many [dogs] I have now painted. Dozens anyway. I've gifted many of them to the new owners as a good luck present."

This year, the need for foster carers like Jo has never been greater, with Dogs Trust receiving over 45,000 handover calls last year from owners. Home from Home is one of two foster schemes run by the charity, with volunteers caring for a dog for as little as a few days, to several weeks. The charity also runs a very unique fostering scheme for dog owners escaping domestic abuse. As many refuges do not accept dogs, Freedom will foster dogs so their owner can find freedom from abuse, before being reunited with their pet.

All costs for fosterers on the Home from Home scheme are covered by Dogs Trust, thanks to the support of players of People's Postcode Lottery, who to date have raised more than £20.6million for the charity. Funds are awarded by the Postcode Animal Trust.

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery, said:

"The incredible dedication of foster carers like Jo and the work of the Dogs Trust team in such difficult times is so inspiring. Without them many dogs would have nowhere else to go. Unfortunately, the current challenges of rehoming dogs are unlikely to ease any time soon - and that's why our players' funding has never been more vital."

Abbi Moon, Dogs Trust Head of Rehoming Central Operations, said:

"This year, foster carers have been more important than ever before. We had over 45,000 handover calls last year because dog owners are facing so many struggles, including the cost of living.

"We have 21 rehoming centres, but our kennel space is stretched, and we don't see that easing any time soon.

"Thanks to volunteers like Jo, and the players of People's Postcode Lottery, we can have kennels ready for the next dog who has nowhere else to go. We couldn't be more grateful."

For more information on Dogs Trust, or information on how to become a foster carer, please visit: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/rehoming/fostering

Find out more about how People's Postcode Lottery helps charities and good causes at https://www.postcodelottery.co.uk/good-causes

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Government must deliver on its commitment to ban cruel electric shock collars, say leading veterinary and animal welfare organisations

Jessica Curtis — Sat, 10 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000

A group of leading veterinary and animal welfare organisations is calling on the Government not to U-turn on its promise to ban hand-held Electronic Shock Collars in England.

Last year, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) announced that these collars would be prohibited for use on dogs and cats in England from 1st February 2024, something that would have been a huge step forward in terms of animal welfare. However, Parliament was not given time to debate it, meaning the implementation date for this new legislation has passed and no further progress has been made.

Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Battersea, British Veterinary Association and Blue Cross have campaigned against the use of Electric Shock Collars for many years. 51,000 members of the public showed their support for the ban by writing to their MPs.

Further to this, two separate polling exercises, independently commissioned by The Kennel Club and RSPCA, both showed the overwhelming public support for a ban on shock collars. The polling results highlighted that over 9 in 10 UK adults support an urgent ban on the use of shock collars in England.

Speaking on behalf of Dogs Trust, The Kennel Club, RSPCA, Battersea, British Veterinary Association and Blue Cross, Paula Boyden, Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust, says:

“We are incredibly disappointed that the UK Government has seemingly reneged on its commitment to end the use of hand-held electric shock collars in England. These devices are both unnecessary and cruel, and this is a view held not just by our organisations but by more than 51,000 people who have shown their support for a ban.

“Between us, we care for thousands of dogs and cats every year, many of whom need some level of support with unwanted behaviours, and our experience has shown that positive reward-based methods are as effective without causing harm.

“But we haven’t run out of time to save this law yet. We are collectively calling on Defra not to U-turn on its promise to ban the sale and use of electric shock collars and to find the time to bring this ban into effect. There is simply no place or need for these cruel devices in modern pet training.”

Electric Shock Collars can be used on any animal, on any setting, as often as the handset bearer requires, irrespective of the consequences for the animal. However, research has shown that instead of improving behaviour, the use of such devices can actually risk causing further problems. Electric Shock Collars are used by some to train pets by punishing unwanted behaviours through the application of a shock to the animal’s neck. To change unwanted behaviour, the shock administered needs to be strong enough for the animal to feel and to be of sufficient magnitude for them to be fearful of feeling that shock again.

Livestock worrying is the most common reason giving to justify the use of Electric Shock Collars by those who still use them. However, data from five police forces suggests that most livestock worrying incidents (nearly 7 in 10) occur from unaccompanied dogs i.e. stray or latch-key dogs, so the use of Electric Shock Collars would not prevent these offences. For the minority of livestock worrying cases which involve dogs being walked with an owner or walker, keeping a dog on a lead in the vicinity of livestock is the most effective way to prevent livestock worrying.

Studies have shown that the use of devices such as electric shock collars have serious impact on the welfare of animals. This includes behavioural and physiological signs of distress and the exacerbation of, or development of new, unwanted behaviours. Robust research evidence shows that such techniques are not needed; positive reinforcement is effective at changing behaviour.

The use of shock collars also requires the animal to associate the shock with their unwanted behaviour. Creating fear in this way risks numerous negative consequences for the pet and owner.
Animals may associate the shock with other things in their environment, such as other dogs or people, and learn to avoid or be aggressive towards these. They may not associate the shock with anything specific and become anxious about the wider situation where the collar is used. For example, dogs may avoid going for walks at all, be very inactive on walks, or stick close to their owner through anxiety.
Animals can become aggressive towards, or avoidant of, their owners either in immediate response to the shock, or to avoid further shocks (for example when the collar is put on).
Where the shock is used in situations where animals are already anxious (e.g. for barking or lunging), this is likely to increase anxiety potentially leading to more extreme or different unwanted behaviours.
It is uncertain how long such shocks would be required to reach a desired effect, or whether the person administering them would know when to stop, causing the animal potentially significant harm.
Collar use can cause physical injury to animals

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Shock collar ban

Cost of living plagues UK dog owners as ‘dogflation’ continues to outstrip inflation

Jessica Curtis — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Following this week's CPI (Consumer Price Index) surprise increase to 4%, Dogs Trust warns there is still a gap between inflation and what it terms 'dogflation'; the costs associated with owning a dog.

The charity has released a report, produced with Oxford Economics, which shows the rate of increase in costs for owning a dog has outstripped economy-wide price growth since August 2022.

After dogflation outstripped CPI in every single month in 2023 - at its peak a difference of 5 percentage points last December - preliminary numbers from Wednesday's CPI release suggest that dogflation is still more than double the rate of economy-wide CPI, now standing at 9% vs inflation of 4%.

The dogflation model

Following the CPI announcement earlier this week, dogflation now sits at 9% - 5 percentage points above the headline CPI of 4%.

This comes at a time when nearly a fifth (19%) of respondents of Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey have said they may have to consider changing to cheaper pet food in the coming year. The majority of respondents also rated veterinary bills as the dog-related cost pressure they were most worried about. Meanwhile, Dogs Trust continues to be inundated with enquiries from owners asking to give up their dogs, with over 45,000 relinquishment enquiries in 2023, 3,277 in the last month alone.

Government must do more to help

Dogs Trust is still calling on the government to step up support for struggling dog owners. Last week it handed in its Paws the VAT petition, signed by over 100,000 people who agreed that they wanted to see the government temporarily remove the VAT on pet food and veterinary services, until Britain recovers its normal standard of living. The charity believes this reduction in prices for pet food and veterinary services could prove critical to many dog owners, offsetting spiraling prices to help keep dog care affordable.

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust, says:

"Our Dogflation model shows that despite the surprise rise in inflation, dog owners – a third of UK households – are still disproportionately hit by the everyday costs of owning a dog.

"As we continue to receive handover enquiries from desperate owners, our priority is to keep as many dogs with their families as we can, and we'll continue to work with our counterparts across the animal welfare sector to try to ensure dogs won't go hungry.

"But this burden shouldn't sit on the charity sector's shoulders alone. We desperately need the government to step up and play its part for this country's 12 million dogs and their owners, by cutting the 20% VAT on pet food, at least for the time being."

How Dogs Trust is helping

The charity has set up dog food banks at its rehoming centres across the UK, which are open to anybody who's having difficulties feeding their dogs.
It is offering a discounted rate on its Dog School training classes, to help owners who's dogs might be experiencing behavioural problems.
It is urgently seeking foster carers who can offer a temporary home to big dogs, dogs with little-to-no house training, or dogs with challenging behaviour, to free up much needed space in rehoming centres.
Dogs Trust is asking the Government to do its bit by pausing the VAT on pet food and veterinary services. Over 100,000 people have signed its petition asking The Chancellor to Paws the VAT.
Dogs Trust Contact Centre can be contacted Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm on 020 7837 0006 or at info@dogstrust.org.uk

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Dogflation

New study confirms flat faced dogs have 40% increased risk of shorter lifespan

Your Pets Daily Editor — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

New research led by the UK's largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust provides further insight into the life expectancy of our beloved canine companions. The study published today (1st February) in Scientific Reports, explores how different factors such as breed, body size, face shape and sex affect how long our pooches live for.

The study used data from over half a million* UK dogs, from over 150 breeds and crossbreeds to highlight those dogs most at risk from an early death. The study showed the median life expectancy of all dogs was 12.5 years, with breeds such as the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2 years), and Miniature Dachshund (14.0 years), found to live the longest.

Researchers found brachycephalic dogs, those with flat-faces, like popular French Bulldogs (9.8 years) have a 40% increased risk of living shorter lives than dogs with typical shaped faces e.g., Border Collie (13.1 years). The team also found large-sized breeds have a 20% increased risk of shorter lifespan than small-sized breeds. The data was collected from 18 different UK sources**, including breed registries, vets, pet insurance companies, animal welfare charities, and academic institutions.

The nation's favourite breeds according to Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey***, Labradors (13.1 years) and Cocker Spaniels (13.3 years), lived longer than the average age. Researchers also found female dogs had a slightly higher median life expectancy than males (12.7 years compared to 12.4 years). The dog breeds with the lowest median lifespans are the Caucasian Shepherd (5.4 years), Presa Canario (7.7 years) and Cane Corso (8.1 years).

Lead author Dr Kirsten McMillan, Data Manager at Dogs Trust said: "We found life expectancy varies between breed, body size, face shape and sex - this is the first study where all of these elements have been compared and contrasted alongside evolutionary history. Many of these factors interact to compound the issue, for example medium sized, flat-faced male dogs are nearly 3 times more likely to live shorter lives than small sized, long-faced females."

"The findings have important implications for the canine pedigree health debate: although this study does not determine risk factors for early death, it does highlight groups that require further investigation. We hope this study can help breeders, policymakers, funding bodies, and welfare organizations make informed decisions to improve the welfare of companion dogs, as well as helping owners understand the range of factors that influence health and longevity, especially when acquiring a dog."

Dr Dan O'Neill, Chair of the Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) which comprises of veterinary, breeder and welfare organisations to tackle the health and welfare issues facing flat-faced breeds, said:

"Issues related to their huge popularity and serious health problems have triggered a health and welfare crisis for flat-faced dog breeds such as the French Bulldog, Pug and English Bulldog. This new research underlines these major health issues by revealing that flat-faced dogs live 1.5 years shorter lives than typical dogs. It is crucial that the public prioritises health over what they might think looks 'cute' and we urge anyone considering getting a flat-faced breed to 'Stop and think' and to ensure that they acquire a dog with the best chances of a long and happy life."

For more advice on getting a dog responsibly, visit the Dogs Trust website.

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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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Pet Abduction Bill