I am absolutely delighted that my Pet Abduction Bill is the first Private Members Bill to go through committee in this Parliamentary session.
I am determined to ensure my Bill is the first Private Members Bill to become law this session.
The official title is: "a Bill to create offences of dog abduction and cat abduction and to confer a power to make corresponding provision relating to the abduction of other animals commonly kept as pets".
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).
I'm a huge animal-lover and this Bill is so important as it means pets are treated as sentient beings, rather than objects. It's gratifying that this Bill has received so much support from across the House and I'm grateful to my Parliamentary colleagues for helping to get it across the line.
Hopefully this good progress will continue and the Bill will make it onto the statute books in good time.
