RSPCA and Dogs Trust react to new pet abduction law

Harsher punishments for stealing someone's pet is going to be introduced under government plans to crack down on the crime after a reported rise in cases during the pandemic.

The new law is also going to recognise that the welfare of animals and pets are valued more than property. Animals and pets were treated as the same as property.

Animal charities RSPCA and Dogs Trust are in support of the new law and are hoping for more severe punishments for people who break it.

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The RSPCA, which has a shelter in Brighton, chief executive, Chris Sherwood, said: "Pet theft can leave families in utter turmoil and have serious welfare implications for animals ripped away from everything they know.

"The new pet abduction offence will acknowledge the seriousness of this crime, and we hope this will encourage courts to hand out much tougher sentences to pet thieves.

"We're also thrilled that the government wants to simplify the microchipping database system, and we believe this will help to tackle pet theft as well as other animal welfare issues and irresponsible pet ownership generally."

Pet abductions could be met with harsher punishments

Claire Calder, head of public affairs at Dogs Trust, which has a shelter in Shoreham, said: "We are thrilled about the introduction of a new pet abduction offence announced as one of the key recommendations made by the government's Pet Theft Taskforce.

"Our dogs play such a huge and important part in our lives, but sadly many are stolen each year, which is absolutely heartbreaking. Any action to urgently tackle this growing issue is a step in the right direction.

"We hope the recommendations made by the Pet Theft Taskforce will lead to increased sentences that serve as a greater deterrent to those committing these awful crimes."

The government set up the Pet Theft Taskforce to gather evidence and understand the factors contributing to the rise in pet thefts.

Among the recommendations, the task force has made the aim to improve the tracing of online pet sales to catch illegitimate sellers and to increase the amount of assurance about where puppies have come from.

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It also suggests that the records of animal ownership and transfers can be improved by reviewing microchipping systems. But the main recommendation is the new pet abduction offence.

A spokesman for the task force said: "We recommend the development of legislative options at pace for a new pet abduction offence to acknowledge the welfare of sentient animals.

"The policy development of the proposed new pet abduction offence has just begun, and the details of the offence are to be determined.

"The scope of the offence should include dogs, and the applicability to other types of animals should be explored during the development of the policy."

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