We are thrilled to announce that from 24th August 2024 the Pet Abduction Act will become law in England and Northern Ireland.  We can’t thank everyone enough for signing petitions and contacting your MP’s.  We did it with your help.  This will give the police more powers. Anyone found guilty of stealing a pet will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both, this will act as a deterrent to stop this cruel crime. 

Prior to the 24th August 2024:  In law our pets are classified as property, second hand goods, valued under £500, the punishment is usually a messily £250 fine, if the thief is caught! The Sentencing Council’s Guidelines exclude any serious sentencing making this a low-risk high-reward crime, a gift for dog thieves. A new specific offence for Pet Theft would give courts access to appropriate custodial sentences to act as a deterrent, protect the public and give the Police more powers.

SAMPA has been campaigning to protect our domestic pets from theft since 2014 and we are very proud that our work, alongside Dr Daniel Allen, founder of Pet Theft Reform, resulted in the Government setting up a Pet Theft Taskforce with their report saying, in September 2021, that there will be a new Pet Abduction offence.

NEWSFLASH: THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT THE NEW PET ABDUCTION BILL FROM ANNA FIRTH MP: Successful 1st, 2nd and 3rd Reading’s in the House of Commons, 19th April 2024. Successful 1st Reading on 22nd April in the House of Lords, 2nd Reading is on 10th May 2024. The Pet Abduction Act receives Royal Accent on 24th May 2024. 

More information on our news page with many missing pets. (link in our drop down menu).

SAMPA’S annual  Dog Theft Awareness Day is on 14 March and we are lucky to have  celebrities Ricky Gervais, David Walliams, Sarah Cox and Claire Balding joining forces to endorse the fact that our dogs and cats are not property but members of our families, special thanks to Emma Kennedy who produced the video, in calling for change in law to stop spiral Pet Theft in the UK.