Cats Protection and Dogs Trust welcomes Pet Abduction Bill
By supporting the Pet Abduction Bill, the government is delivering on pledges made in its Action Plan for Animal Welfare
UK animal charities Cats Protection and Dogs Trust have welcomed the Pet Abduction Bill, following its second reading today (19 January).
A new criminal offence for pet abduction has taken a significant step forward with the announcement of government backing for new legislation.
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.
Evidence from the Pet Theft Task Force has suggested that around 2,000 dog theft and over 400 cat theft crimes were reported to police in 2020, causing “considerable distress for owners and their pets alike”.
With an estimated 28% of UK adults owning a dog and 24% owning a cat, pet theft is a “major concern” to the public.
By supporting the Pet Abduction Bill, the government is delivering on pledges made in its Action Plan for Animal Welfare.
This recognised that cats and dogs are “not inanimate objects but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners or keepers”.
Firth said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Pet Abduction Bill has passed its second reading, and will move on to Committee stage. As a nation of pet-lovers, it is vital that the law recognises the emotional impact that the abduction of a pet can have, and brings the perpetrators to justice that correctly reflects this.
“Pets are not merely property like a smartphone or watch – they are part of the family. It is not right that the law does not distinguish this and I am delighted that my bill will redress this wrong.”
Cats Protection stated that the bill 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.
Annabel Berdy, senior advocacy and government relations officer at Cats Protection, 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 unnoticed 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 forward and bring about better protections for pet owners and pets alike.”
Similarly, Owen Sharp, Dogs Trusts chief executive, added: “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.”
