Cat theft, microchipping and new animal health and welfare legislation were the topics of the day when Penrith and The Border MP Dr Neil Hudson met with the All-Party Group on Cats (APGOCATS) at their parliamentary event.
The event was a chance to discuss cat theft with animal welfare charities and campaigners including Cats Protection. Cases of recorded cat theft have reached an all-time high according to data from Pet Theft Awareness. The Cat Theft report 2022 has found that, in 2021, the number of cases has increased an astonishing 40% since 2020 and quadrupled since 2015.
Current proposals for a pet abduction offence only extend to dogs and Dr Hudson and APGOCATS are calling for cats to also be protected.
The drop-in coincided with a new Government announcement that pet owners in England will legally be required to microchip their cats from June, 2024. It will apply to all English cats over 20 weeks old aims to reunite lost or stolen cats with their owners far more easily.
Other Government interventions being discussed included the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill which has stalled during its process through the Houses of Parliament. If made into law, the Bill would help stamp out the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade, prohibit the import of dogs with cropped ears, and much more. Dr Hudson has pushed for this legislation to include prohibiting the importation of mutilated cats as well as dogs. Currently the horrific practice of de-clawing still occurs outside the UK and these animals can be freely imported, much like dogs with cropped ears.
Dr Neil Hudson is the only vet to have been elected to the House of Commons in more than a century so welcomes lending his expertise to such events. A strong advocate for animal health and welfare, the veterinary MP works closely with animal charities and Ministers to develop evidence-based and long-term strategies to make sure the UK can continue to be a beacon of best practice to the world.
On companion animals, the veterinary MP and Member of the EFRA Committee has recently triggered a Parliamentary Inquiry into Pet Welfare and Abuse to consider the post-pandemic health and welfare concerns such as abuse, unregulated breeding mills and mutilation.
Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
"I really welcome the progress is being made to make cats safer with the Government’s microchipping announcement this week making microchipping compulsory in cats, honouring our manifesto commitment. As a Veterinary Surgeon, I know just how special animals are to us whatever their species – and their loss by theft is traumatic, heart-breaking and distressing for everyone. Current proposals for a pet abduction offence only extend to dogs, I have been calling for other species to be included in this for some time now and I will continue to bang the drum on this.
I continue to call for the return of the Kept Animals Bill and am pushing for this legislation to include prohibiting the importation of mutilated cats as well as dogs. Currently the horrific practice of de-clawing still occurs outside the UK and these animals can be freely imported, much like dogs with cropped ears.”
“Animal Health and Welfare is, and always will be, a huge priority for me, as I know it is for people in the UK and I will continue using my professional expertise to try to improve the lives of animals.”
Charlotte Broad, Advocacy and Government Relations Officer for Cats Protection added:
“We know that 90% of cat owners see their pet as part of the family; so a decision to exclude cats from any new offence would be of extreme concern to Cats Protection and the millions of cat owners across the country. Cats Protection are delighted that so many parliamentarians have spoken up for cats on this important issue.”
Microchipping Legislation: www.gov.uk/government/news/treasured-pets-now-safer-as-microchipping-for-cats-becomes-compulsory
Pet Theft Awareness, Cat Theft Report 2022: pettheftawareness.blogspot.com/2022/05/cat-theft-report-summary.html
