What is the Pet Abduction Act 2024?

What is the Pet Abduction Act 2024?

From August 24th 2024 this much needed new law came into effect.
Following the significant increase in pet theft during the pandemic, the government appointed a Pet Theft Taskforce to investigate. Their recommendation included the creation of a Pet Abduction Offence in recognition that pets are not inanimate objects as they were previously classified under the Theft Act 1968, but sentient, loved family members who have the capacity to suffer when stolen. The word 'abduction' was more appropriate since it places the emphasis firmly on the welfare of the pet, whilst recognising the impact on the owner.

The Act comprises two separate offences:
Dog Abduction and Cat Abduction.

It will be a criminal offence to "take" and "detain" a dog however, only the 'taking' of a cat will fall within the scope of the Act. This is to reflect the different lifestyle and freedoms that our family cats enjoy, leaving them to continue to roam and 'drop in' to neighbours' gardens and houses without triggering the offence.

Neither of these offences will apply if the cat or dog has lived with the accused at anytime.

The offence allows the provision of 'reasonable excuse'. This might include someone who can show that they had 'lawful authority' or being concerned that a cat or dog has become displaced from its home or is looking in need of veterinary treatment or care. (It is worth noting that in such instances there should be a reasonable expectation of evidence that veterinary care had been sought and the dog or cat had been scanned for a microchip. Scanning is provided free of charge at any veterinary surgery.

We are pleased that this new offence will enable the courts to send those convicted of pet abduction to prison for up to 5 years and/or to issue a fine. This new legislation will help provide a significant deterrent to dog and cat thieves and will oblige police forces across England and Northern Ireland to record pet theft data with a new identifying code, ensuring that we can at least start collecting meaningful data and build a more accurate picture as to the scale and nature of cat and dog theft.

England and NI only.

This new legislation does not extend to Scotland and Wales so we will be lobbying the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Assembly to introduce a similar Pet Abduction law - to include family cats too.

Pet Theft Awareness is delighted with this new legislation and would like to thank our campaign partners, Cats Protection, and everyone in parliament across all the political parties who made this a much needed reality!

Our Opinion

It is vital that the punishment fits the crime and acts as a deterrent. The severity of the punishment must send shockwaves through the community and make anyone think twice about stealing a dog or a cat. The consequences must be so grave for offenders that they fear the punishment so much that they won't even consider taking away a much love pet.

Pet Theft Awareness would like the law to be extended to other pets, companion animals, and horses. We will also be actively encouraging the law to be extended to Wales and Scotland.

Government Website:
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2024/16/contents