TEMPLATE LETTER TO SEND TO YOUR MP - including cats in proposed Pet Abduction Offence

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TEMPLATE LETTER TO SEND TO YOUR MP

Please cut and paste the template letter and send it to your MP.
(or feel free to personalise as you wish).

You can find your MPs email address here: https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Dear …………………….. (MP name)

IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO INCLUDE CATS!
       
As one of your constituents, I am writing to you regarding the Government’s Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill which is set to expire on 8th June 2023.
       
I understand that the options available to the Government are:
       
1. To let the Bill drop.
2. To table a further debatable carry over motion to extend this time or
3. To schedule a date for the Bill’s remaining stages before the 8th June and enable it to progress to the House of Lords.
 
To date there has been no announcement as to how, or even whether, the Bill will progress and time is running out. As of Tuesday 9th May there were only 15 PARLIAMENTARY DAYS until 8th June.

This Bill is a major step in the improvement of animal welfare in this country with both cross-party support and the support of the public. It would be a travesty of justice were this Bill to be dropped after years of work by charities and other animal organisations, as well as MPs and ministers.

However, there is one important omission which needs to be urgently addressed: The theft of cats has not been included alongside dogs in the proposed Pet Abduction Offence within the Bill. As currently drafted this will apply solely to dogs. Data from the Pet Theft Awareness Cat Theft Report 2022 has revealed that cat theft increased by 40% in 2021, an alarming statistic which highlights the need for cats to have legal protection from being stolen. Pet theft figures from the Metropolitan Police dashboard are indicating that the composition of pet theft is changing - it is clear that cats are increasingly becoming a target!

The Government is aware of the latest evidence and has commented that, 'it has noted the contents of the Cat Theft Report'. DEFRA have added, 'We have listened carefully to the views expressed during the passage of the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill that the new Pet Abduction Offence should be extended to cats. We are currently considering this issue further'. 

In addition to providing evidence-based research from FOIs sent to all UK police forces, the report also points out that cat theft meets all the criteria set by the Government themselves for inclusion in the offence (Power to Extend Section 43). Since the intrinsic value of family cats as companions has now been recognised by the government following the introduction of compulsory microchipping of cats (due to come in to force 10th June 2024), the case for an amendment to be included is even stronger. I appreciate that there is provision within the Bill to extend the offence to include cats or other species via the Enabling Powers at some date in the future, but given all the evidence contained in the report and the cross-party and public support there is for their inclusion at the outset, it makes sense for this amendment to be made prior to the Bill being passed to the House of Lords.  

I am therefore asking you to write to DEFRA requesting:

1. That the theft of family cats is treated as pet abduction and included in the Bill alongside dogs and,
       
2. Assurance that the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill will progress to the House of Lords as soon as possible.

Time is running out and I, like many others, are seeking answers before it is too late.

I trust that you will support my request and I look forward to DEFRA’s response.


Yours sincerely


(Name and address. Address must be provided to confirm you are a constituent)

 

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