113 DAYS AND COUNTING!

On 12th January 2021, Lord Goldsmith responded to a question put to him by Baroness Bakewell, “There are already laws in place in relation to pet theft, and it is the view of the Government that the maximum penalties available are sufficient. However, I know that colleagues in government are looking at what changes could be made to sentencing guidelines to reflect the fact that a puppy being stolen is not the same as an inanimate object being stolen. I hope that progress will be made shortly.” Watch here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/aa28391e-849c-4f17-b705-e8ad85d96944?in=12:16:55&out=12:18:20

Tom Hunt MP update before Christmas was that the Lord Chancellor, who supports Pet Theft Reform was in conversations with the Sentencing Council and looking at the sentencing guidelines.

Tom Hunt MP, Petitions Committee member, wrote to Robert Buckland, the Justice Minister straight after the debate as he’d agreed he was going to look at amending the sentencing guidelines in the Theft Act to include a separate definition for our domestic pets. This was also backed up by Victoria Prentis from Defra. 22nd October 2020.

We need #PetTheftReform to give courts access to appropriate custodial sentences to act as a deterrent, provide punishment, and protect the public.

The 2nd Pet Theft Reform debate in Parliament on 19th October 2021.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Victoria Prentis said in her response “We do not currently think that the creation of a specific offence for pet theft, with a two-year custodial penalty, would really help much. We think the way to go is to continue the discussions that I know my hon. Friend (Tom Hunt) is already undertaking on sentencing guidelines. To that end, the Government are very willing to work with interested parties, including the police and animal welfare organisations. We are keen to act in this area, and I look forward to taking that forward with Members from across the House.”
and Tom Hunt in closing said “While I was in lockdown I had a virtual meeting with my Right Hon. and learned friend the Lord Chancellor which was positive”

All of this makes us believe that the law will be changed but pressure must be kept on all parties.

Although many of us may be impatient for this change, we must be patient as it takes time for new legislation to be implemented.

Watch the debate live (from 4.30pm, Mon 19 Oct): https://youtu.be/XRtSMPH_zuc

Read the transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2020-10-19/debates/7DB00823-5B7F-452D-8F36-B857FEDE682B/PetTheft

Read the research: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cdp-2020-0111/

Three consecutive, successful #PetTheftReform petitions:

2020: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300071 CLOSED
2019: https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/244530 CLOSED
2018: https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/212174 CLOSED

Zooming into history with the first virtual PET THEFT REFORM DEBATE on 3rd June 2020. The Petitions Committee recorded the meeting:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOKQOIPVIpM

Beverly Cuddy, Patron produced the updated briefing document:-
https://simplebooklet.com/publish.php?wpKey=Znc5GhLt0RBwISEORKnQfI#page=2

Dr Daniel Allen, Animal Geographer at Keele University and SAMPA patron has explained why we need Pet Theft Reform: Dog theft on the rise: how in danger is your pet and what can be done about it?

https://theconversation.com/dog-theft-on-the-rise-how-in-danger-is-your-pet-and-what-can-be-done-about-it-125010

Spatialities of Dog Theft: A Critical Perspective: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/5/209

Professor John Cooper QC (Legal Adviser and Patron) produced the Pet (Theft) Bill:- https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/cbill/2017-2019/0245/cbill_2017-20190245_en_2.htm#l1g1

PetTheftBill UPDATE: The Pet(Theft) Bill 2nd Reading has been lost as Parliament has been prorogued and election called, November 2019.

Beverley Cuddy (SAMPA Patron) produced the Pet Theft document brief:- http://bit.ly/PETTHEFTDEBATE

Updated Briefing Document:- https://www.dropbox.com/s/uj5efglxbb3zogg/pet%20theft%20briefing%202020%20beverley%20cuddy.pdf?dl=0

A lot of work has gone into this campaign to help stop pet theft and introduce tougher sentencing to act as a deterrent, please get involved by contacting your MP:- Template letter for your MP:- http://www.stolenandmissingpetsalliance.co.uk/write-to-your-mp/

We also support #FernsLaw petition to help missing microchipped pets get back home:- https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300010 now closed and waiting for a debate date.

Open petition to #MakeChipsCount: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/551556

LucysLaw is in place to stop puppy farming and #FinnsLaw is in place to protect working police dogs, now it’s our turn to protect our own pets.

Make ALL pets safer, keep emailing your MPs. Keep the pressure on.

Watch the 2018 Pet Theft Debate in Parliament 2nd July 2018: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/2569c482-6964-479b-9563-a58a831cc78b

Read the 2018 Pet Theft Debate transcript: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-07-02/debates/05B60093-01C7-43ED-B469-55E8164A0D2B/PetTheft

ANNUAL EVENT: DOG THEFT AWARENESS DAY ON 14th MARCH.
Started by Gareth Johnson MP.

WE WOULDN’T HAVE GOT THIS FAR WITHOUT YOUR HELP AND ITH SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL THE FACEBOOK LOST AND FOUND ANIMAL GROUPS AND PAGES 🐾❤️🐾