Pet theft petition

[Mystic Mog]

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/212174

Please would all you animal lovers sign this.

Thanks.

[flocker spotter]

madness

[peckham_ryu]

If these online petitions had an option to register an objection to the motion proposed, I would firmly object to this one.

We have theft laws. We have animal cruelty laws. If someone steals a dog, handles a stolen parrot, or causes distress to a stolen gerbil, they can be prosecuted right now without need for further legislation. This petition achieves nothing but a waste of valuable legislators' time. Please stop distracting our MP's with things that have zero chance of making any positive change in the world.

[peckham_ryu]

MPs debated this petition in Westminster Hall yesterday. The highlights start 24 minutes in to this edition of Today in Parliament: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b85m2c

Sounded like a largely under-informed debate, with vague conclusions that sentencing guidelines might have already been reviewed to take emotional impact into account. General comments that there aren?t many prosecutions for pet theft in the first place.

Bob Stewart MP made the interesting observation that there used to be an Act dealing explicitly with the stealing of dogs, passed in 1770, with severe penalties. It was repealed by the Theft Act 1968.

[JohnL]

This is the agenda in the Commons today:

An urgent question on Govia Thameslink and rail electrification - 12.30

An urgent question on the LBGT action plan - 1.15

A statement from Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson providing a counter-Daesh update - 2pm

A 10-minute rule motion on Pets (Theft) 2.45pm

Estimates day debates (i) Department for Education (ii) Treasury spending on grants to the devolved institutions (iii) Main estimates 2018/19 - 3pm

[malumbu]

Maybe a counter-petition that it is cruel to keep animals out of their natural environment, perhaps fine for food and working animals, but not for our own entertainment or as baby substitutes, and the harm that selective breeding causes. Discuss.

Here's some earlier thoughts from our community https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/aug/01/should-we-stop-keeping-pets-why-more-and-more-ethicists-say-yes

[Robert Poste's Child]

How about an on-the-spot fine for anyone who takes their dog for a walk on pavement tarmac or concrete or put them in a car when the temperature's over 22 degrees? Due to the way dogs regulate their body heat it's horribly cruel and can even kill.

[flocker spotter]

it just keeps on giving