Pet Abduction Bill 'on the cusp' of passing third Commons Reading

A Bill from an Essex MP, pushing for abduction of cats and dogs to become a separate offence, has reached its final stage in the Commons.

Southend West MP Anna Firth's Pet Abduction Bill will pass its Report Stage today, the final stage before heading to the Lords.

Ms Firth's pushes for the Private Members Bill, after becoming aware of the national rise and staggering number of pet thefts across the country.

Members of Ms Firth's Essex constituency also raised their concerns and incidents of pet theft to the MP, which has inspired the Bill, on the cusp of passing its third Reading in the Commons.

The Pet Abduction Bill would see the Government declare pet theft as a separate offence, enabling more specific sentencing and charges for the offence.

Currently, pet theft lies under the same legal category as having inanimate objects stolen.

The Bill acknowledges the sentiment and emotion pet owners have with their animals, and values the emotional distress as well as other loss when pet theft occurs.

Pet theft figures rising

Figures suggest last year at least 2,290 dogs were stolen, with just one in six found and returned successfully. The number of thefts last year is a 6% increase on 2022. The number found and returned is the lowest level since insurer Direct Line started tracking the data in 2015.

One resident from Anna Firth's Southend constituency inspired the Bill. Ann Cushion had her four rescue dogs stolen, and has since established a group in the area which aims to reunite owners with their pets.

Incidents of pet theft in Essex also include the theft of Twiglet in July 2023, a dachshund who was stolen after a thief was seen on footage released by Essex Police, smashing a patio door and took Twiglet.

It's believed the thief sold her on.

Anna Firth MP says she's delighted the Bill has reached its final stage, with the cross-party support.

She said: "I am delighted that my Bill has reached its final stage in the House of Commons and I’m grateful for the cross-party support that it has received.

"Our pets are part of our families. They comfort us when we are down and give us a huge amount of laughter, energy and joy when we are up—and, in fact, all the time. They make a house a home. That is why it is so heart-breaking when any one of our beloved pets is snatched away from us, and it is also why the taking, abducting or detaining of someone else’s beloved pet is such a sick and cruel crime

"I was inspired to take up this cause having heard the story of Ann Cushion, who had her own four rescue dogs stolen. She has gone on to establish Southend-based group Tilly’s Angels with Helene Leader, an initiative seeking to reunite pets with their owners.

"As a nation of pet-lovers, it is vital that the law recognises the emotional impact that theft of a pet can have and brings the perpetrators to justice that correctly reflects this. Pets are not merely ornamental in our lives – they are sentient beings, and it is not right that the law does not distinguish this."

As the Pet Abduction Bill enters the Lords, which is the second stage of progress towards becoming law, Lord Guy Black of Brentwood is sponsoring Anna Firth's Bill.

"I am delighted that Anna has asked me to take her private members bill through the House of Lords and I am particularly pleased to see that it includes cats, something I have raised in the Lords myself. Pets truly are part of the family, and this important bill will help to ensure that is recognised in law when it comes to their abduction.

"Anna has expertly steered this bill through the Commons at great pace and I will endeavour to guide it through the Lords with the same urgency so that this long overdue piece of legislation can come into force as soon as possible so we can better protect our beloved pets that mean so much to us all."

Hear the latest news on Downtown on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.