London, 31st January 2024
Today (Wednesday 31st January) Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF) has welcomed Patron Anna Firth MP’s Pet Abduction Bill passing its Committee Stage in the House of Commons. This follows the First Reading which took place on 6th December 2023 and the Second Reading which took place on 19th January.
Patron Anna Firth MP pictured (centre) following the Committee Stage of the Pet Abduction Bill with Patrons Chris Loder MP and Jane Stevenson MP, Natalie Elphicke MP, James Daly MP, Dr Therese Coffey MP, Peter Gibson MP and Defra Minister Mark Spencer MP
During the Second Reading, Anna Firth MP said that: “Our pets are part of our families. They comfort us when we are down and give us a huge amount of laughter, energy and joy when we are up—and, in fact, all the time. They make a house a home. That is why it is so heartbreaking when any one of our beloved pets is snatched away from us, and it is also why the taking, abducting or detaining of someone else’s beloved pet is such a sick and cruel crime.”
The Bill Committee included, amongst other MPs: former Secretary of State Dr Thérèse Coffey MP; Defra PPS and CAWF Patron Chris Loder MP; CAWF Patron Jane Stevenson MP; Rosie Duffield, Chair of the All-Party Dog Animal Welfare Group (APDAWG), as well as Farming Minister Mark Spencer MP.
The Pet Abduction Bill will make dog and cat abduction a specific offence and make provisions against the abduction of other animals commonly kept as pets (such as ferrets). This legislation will also address the growing problem of pet theft and deliver part of Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare (2021).
Currently, under the law there is little to deter criminals who would seek to profit from the sale of a stolen pet. The theft of a pet cat or dog is treated no more severely than that of a mobile phone.
Following the Second Reading, MPs across parties displayed their support for the Bill holding placards, alongside several organisations including Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, Cats Protection, Tilly’s Angels, Dogs Trust, and the Pet Theft Awareness Group.
The Bill will enter its Third Reading in due course. You can read more about the Pet Abduction Bill in the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation briefing here.
Lorraine Platt, Co-Founder of Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation, commented: “We are delighted our Patron Anna Firth MP’s Pet Abduction Bill which will tackle the growing issue of pet theft has passed its Committee Stage in the House of Commons today. This Bill will deliver a key component of Defra’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare (2021).
“Our pets are members of the family, often providing much needed companionship and stability throughout our lives. That the theft of a treasured pet is treated no more severely under the law than that of a mobile phone is simply unacceptable, and we look forward to seeing this legislation provide an effective deterrent against such offences.”
About Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation (CAWF)
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation was established in 2016 to raise awareness on the lives of billions of animals reared on intensive farms around the world and how this impact upon animal welfare, the environment and people’s health. We want to highlight the action people can take to help advance farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare is an increasing concern amongst the public, who frequently look to Government to take the lead in both maintaining and improving standards.
The Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation believes it is highly important that the welfare of farm animals is placed at the forefront of the Governments plan for food and farming along with its focus on productivity, competitiveness, and technology.
Media contact: Sophia Stileman (sophia.stileman@conservativeanimalwelfarefoundation.org)
