The UK’s largest cat charity Cats Protection has once more welcomed the Pet Abduction Bill after it cleared one other hurdle by way of parliament yesterday.
The Bill – proposed by Anna Firth MP – will give cats and their homeowners larger safety in regulation and assist forestall pet theft.
Annabel Berdy, Senior Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Cats Protection stated: “This proposed regulation is a desperately wanted security web for the nation’s pets, serving to to stamp out the criminals who prey on much-loved animals.
“Pet abduction is a very nasty crime, usually leaving homeowners in everlasting limbo in regards to the destiny of their pets and placing the animals themselves at excessive threat of mistreatment.
“Currently, the theft of an animal is regarded in regulation as being degree with the theft of a cell phone – and that’s clearly not the case. Pets are usually not merely property – they’re sentient beings, able to struggling ache and concern, and are completely irreplaceable to their homeowners.
“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 brand new regulation would assist deal with the backstreet market in purebred cats and kittens, pushed by a rising demand for pedigrees.
Annabel stated: “More than 40 per cent of all cats obtained within the final 12 months had been pedigree, and criminals will little doubt capitalise on this demand. They could goal pedigree cats for onward sale, or – in the event that they’re unneutered – preserve them as breeding animals to supply litter after litter of kittens to promote.
“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 main cat welfare charity and has helped a median of 157,000 cats and kittens a 12 months during the last 5 years by way of its nationwide community which incorporates round 210 volunteer-run branches and 34 centres.
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