As a General Election was recently announced, many Bills currently in progress did not manage to proceed any further as Parliament dissolved.
But good news for the Pet Abduction Bill - it managed to pass the final hurdles and became law just in time, with parliament now dissolved for the forthcoming Election.
The new legislation creates specific offences for dog and cat abduction in England and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of five years, a fine, or both. There are also powers to extend the legislation to cover other pets if necessary.
The legislation to make pet abduction a criminal offence received Royal Assent on 24th May.
Under the Pet Abduction Act 2024 – which was a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Anna Firth MP and Lord Black of Brentwood and supported by the Government – anyone found guilty of stealing a pet in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.
The new law recognises 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.
Evidence from the Pet Theft Taskforce suggests around 2,000 dog 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.
Support for the Act builds upon wider action to protect pets from theft, including making the microchipping of cats compulsory from 10 June 2024. This makes it easier for lost, stray or stolen pets to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely.
