Pet theft reform campaigners nominated for award
The petition received over 143,000 signatures.
Campaigners who petitioned for pet theft reform have been nominated for Petition Campaign of the Year Award at the fifth annual Your UK Parliament Awards.
The petition, 'Make pet theft a specific offence with custodial sentences', started by Dr Daniel Allen from Keele in 2020, received over 143,000 signatures. This petition was set up in the wake of two earlier petitions, one from 2018, and one from 2019, which received 107,000 and 117,000 signatures respectively.
Dr Allen set up the petition in collaboration with Debbie Matthews, CEO of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, and supported by Dr Marc Abraham OBE, founder of the Lucy's Law campaign to end puppy farming, Freya Woodhall, who had been personally affected by dog theft after her dog Willow was stolen in 2018, and Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine, and John Cooper QC, all of whom are nominated for the award.
Held in October 2022, a parliamentary debate discussed two of Dr Allen's petitions, and prior to this the campaigners met with Tom Hunt MP, who led the debate, to discuss their concerns.
Following Dr Allen's campaign, the Government launched its Pet Theft Taskforce in May 2021, where Dr Allen was invited to give evidence. A testament to the importance and effectiveness of the campaign, the Government announced in September 2021 that it would make pet abduction a specific criminal offence.
Catherine McKinnell MP, Chair of the Petitions Committee, said: “These campaigns demonstrate so powerfully how petitions can raise awareness of issues that might otherwise struggle to be heard in Parliament.
“The nominees have each shown how to organise a successful campaign, building on their petitions by gathering support from others affected by the same issue, charities, influential supporters, and the wider public.
“I have been moved by our nominees’ passion, determination, and ideas for how to tackle the problems they’ve set their minds to, and congratulate them on their achievements.”
The Your UK Parliament Awards judging panel has said that it will select the winners shortly, and will announce this in due course.
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
