Pet abduction finally recognised as a specific crime
Earlier in the year I posted about the Pet Abduction Bill which looked to address the fact that when it came to theft, dogs & cats were classed as property - like having your handbag, laptop or mobile phone stolen. This resulted in the sentencing for pet theft often not receiving the maximum penalty available, because it was based on the monetary value of the animal and didn’t consider the distress and emotional impact caused.
The Pet Abduction Bill is a new law in England & Northern Ireland which means that as of this weekend pet abduction is now a crime itself. The new offence carries a maximum of 5 years in prison.
MP Anna Firth, the driving force behind the Bill, told the Commons: “We are showing by our actions that cats and dogs are not just items, and that abducting them causes real distress to families and to individuals. Because actions speak far louder than words and this Bill will send a signal that we take animal welfare seriously in the UK.”
Many will rightly think that this isn’t nearly long enough for a crime like this but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. With 2,290 dogs stolen in 2023, we desperately need these numbers to come down and for dog theft to carry more risk and punishment for those who steal dogs.
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