The decision not to make pet abduction a specific criminal offence in Wales has been criticised by a “devastated” dog owner whose pet went missing six years ago. Carwyn Powell said he felt “stranded” after Spot, a collie, disappeared. While the Pet Abduction Bill will make it a criminal offence to abduct a pet in England and Northern Ireland, it won’t be applicable to Wales as animal welfare is a devolved matter. Currently, pet theft is classified as an inanimate property under the law. Mr Powell’s collie Spot went missing in December 2018. Despite an extensive search, Spot remains missing.
The Pet Abduction Bill, brought forward by Conservative MP Anna Firth, will make it a specific offence to abduct a pet in England and Northern Ireland. Under the new legislation, anyone convicted of the offence could face a fine or a maximum of five years in prison. The Senedd was responsible for bringing similar measures in Wales. Pet theft has increased during the pandemic. A pet theft taskforce was set up, and an abduction bill was one of its recommendations. Sir Robert Buckland MP called on the Welsh government to change, and said pet owners in Wales “should not be put in a different position” to those in other parts of the UK.
Debbie Matthews, co-founder of the Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance, which began calling for reforms to the law a decade ago, said: “It must be terribly worrying for the people in Wales.” RSPCA Cymru is concerned that pets in Wales could be targeted more in other parts of the UK. Billie-Jade Thomas of RSPCA Cymru said: “We hope that the Welsh government will continue to monitor the situation and that the decision that they have made is the result of an evidence-based approach.”
RSPCA Cymru recommends measures such as not keeping dogs tied outside shops, keeping an eye on pets while they are in the garden, ensuring gates are locked and fences are sufficient when pets are outside, and microchipping pets to safeguard them. The Welsh government wants all animals to have a good quality of life and is delivering this through its programme of ambitious reforms set out in its animal welfare plan. Its focus is on areas that will bring the greatest benefit to animal welfare across Wales, including the licensing of animal welfare establishments, exhibits, and activities. To ensure its resources have the maximum impact on animal welfare, Wales won’t be included in the scope of the Pet Abduction Bill
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