As the petition calling for a revamp of the Dangerous Dogs
Act 1991 and Breed Specific Legislation goes from strength to strength (just
over 60000 signatures at the time of writing), I thought it would be nice to,
over the next few weeks, feature a different petition each week. So this week I
am highlighting the petition to introduce an offence of pet theft. This
petition is running for the third time, due to the ending of previous
Government sessions. The last run of the petition gained 117453 signatures and
was due to have a debate in Parliament. This did not happen, and the General
Election in 2019 cancelled the petition. The petition is now running again.
Whilst theft of pets is covered by the Thefts Act 1968, an
offence for which the maximum penalty is 7 years, the sentences actually
imposed do not reflect the effects of this crime on the human victim. Often a
non-custodial sentence, it is an insult that many only receive small fines
whilst still not providing any information on the whereabouts of the stolen
pet.
It is clear that the sentencing for pet theft is inadequate because the
sentencing guidelines make the approach too lenient. It is even more of an
insult that the human victim, experiencing intense emotional distress, has to
sit in court and see this kind of weak punishment given out. To many, pets are
family. I know of people who have had their dog stolen who describe the
emotional pain as intense for years, saying one wonders all the time where the
dog is, what happened to it. Every day the pet could be alive, you hurt, until
you know the chances of it being alive have gone and you know it won’t be
suffering anymore. I cannot imagine what I would feel if someone stole my dog.
I would worry every day whether he was in pain, or being mistreated, or dead.
Or if he would be wondering why I hadn’t come to get him.
A right realist approach to crime, in particular an increase
in custodial sentences, does not always work to reduce crime. Custodial
sentences rarely reduce the incidence of a particular crime, although suspended
custodial sentences reduce recidivism the most out of all the sentencing
options. There is therefore an argument that either a new offence or increased custodial
sentencing through the guidelines is not the answer. However, the general
perception of pets as mere items of property only serves to encourage thieves
to focus efforts on this type of property which has high value but low
consequence. Routine Activity Theory would suggest that the absence of a
capable guardian increases crime. The state does not protect its animal
citizens, it does not act as a suitable guardian. If the state views pets as
less special than a laptop, the opportunity for pet related crime will be
present and increased.
In the interests of not only reducing theft but also animal
cruelty, it is essential that the state sends out a clear message that pets are
viewed in a category of legal identity all their own, that they are not
property, or less important than a laptop or car. It must show that financial
value is not the only way to assess the worth of something. Until the
Government shows it cares about animals, there will not be change for the
better. How this is achieved must be done carefully. The previous Pet Theft
Bill would have introduced a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment. This
would have limited the maximum sentence far below the maximum for theft, and
sends out perhaps the wrong message in relation to the value of an animal
compared to other property.
As pet thieves are now targeting people in their own home
and using violence to obtain pets, the time has come for something to be done.
Dr Dan Allen’s petition to introduce an offence of pet theft
can be signed here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300071.
It currently has over 17000 signatures. I would also recommend Dr Allen’s
article on this issue, Spatialities of
Dog Theft: A Critical Perspective: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9050209.
Now to highlight a different issue - During the COVID-19 pandemic, many charities have been
struggling, not least animal charities. What I thought might be nice is to
mention a charity each week that we should all get behind. Even if you just
manage to give a couple of quid, less than a pint, each week. After all, many
of us have been saving on pub purchases! So this week I would like to mention
my most favourite charity, other than the one I run of course, Nowzad Dogs
founded by the very lovely Pen Farthing. I can’t believe there is anyone left
in the UK who hasn’t heard of Nowzad, but then I am biased. So for those few of
you who don’t know what they do, I will explain it a bit, however for the full
story I would recommend you look at their website, www.nowzad.com.
Pen had personal experience with dogs who befriended members
of our armed forces in Afghanistan (I wonder how similar this is to those days
many thousands of years ago when dog ancestors first befriended humans) and was
touched by the relationships that were formed between human and dog. To keep
the story brief, Nowzad now has shelters in Afghanistan rescuing dogs, cats,
donkeys and other animals and attempts to rehome them. Some even find their way
to places like the UK and US to be reunited with their armed forces personnel
buddies.
Each animal they rescue has an amazing story, and warms the heart. I
cannot big this charity up enough. They also put a lot back into the community.
Assisting local Afghans, such as with selling crafts of the local women,
education, helping train vets, including a woman vet who now trains the next
generation of young men. All these things break down boundaries and make
positive social change. Please support this amazing charity. Again, their
website is www.nowzad.com. They also have
great merchandise and run activities which you can get involved in. My
particular favourite is the Snowden Challenge – scaling Mount Snowdon in
October. Hopefully COVID-19 won’t cause a problem with that, in which case,
maybe I will see you there?!
I aim to get a blog entry out every Sunday morning, so you
have a chance to sit down and read it when life is a little less hectic, as in
spite of the lockdown, many of us are still quite busy during the week. So keep
an eye out next Sunday, for my next mention of a deserving petition and
deserving animal charity.
As ever comments are welcome, but please #bekind to each
other.
