What we have achieved
Our Progress in 2022
October 27
2022
Pet Industry Federation shortlist Dr Daniel Allen as finalist for Special Achievement (Pet Professional) Award for work on Pet Theft Reform.
October 24
2022
Proposals to make dog abduction a specific crime in Scotland launched at the Scottish Parliament.
September 3
2021
Dr Daniel Allen and Debbie Matthews attend Points of Light reception at 10 Downing Street
May 11
2022
Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill carried over from Session 2021-22.
March 23
2022
Your UK Parliament Awards 'highly commends' Pet Theft Reform in the Petition Campaign of the Year 2022 Award category.
March 14
2022
Dr Daniel Allen receives 'Points of Light award' from PM for voluntary work on Pet Theft Reform.
January 31
2022
Debbie Matthews receives 'Points of Lights award' from PM for voluntary work as Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance (Sampa)
Our Progress in 2021
November 18
2021
Government announces 'New offence to tackle dog theft moves step closer'
September 3
2021
Government announces 'Pet abduction to be made new criminal offence in crackdown on pet theft'
June 25
2021
Sir Iain Duncan Smith makes three amendments regarding the issue of Pet Theft in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill
May 8
2021
Government announces 'Pet Theft Taskforce launched to investigate reported rise in pet thefts.'
February 12
2021
Home Secretary Priti Patel MP tells LBC Radio she is 'looking at' tougher pet theft measures.
February 10
2021
National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) press release, 'Police encourage dog owners to take extra precautions'.
February 10
2021
Tom Hunt MP and Siobhan Baillie MP sent an open letter to the Sentencing Council asking them to amend the sentencing guidelines for pet theft.
February 9
2021
Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP tells LBC Radio he wants to 'Make Pet Theft A Specific Criminal Offence'.
The history of our campaign
October 19
2020
Pet Theft Reform Parlimentary Debate
A debate was held in Westminster Hall at 4.30pm on Monday 19th October 2020 on two e-petitions concerning pet theft reform. Debate chaired by Sir David Amess MP and opened by Tom Hunt MP - full transcript here. Click this link for the Commons Library debate pack.
September 4
2020
The Government petition to make pet theft a crime closed with 143,633 signatures. A massive massive goal reached to help our cause move forward
June 3
2020
Pet Theft Reform Discussion with Petitions Committee
On 3 June, Petitions Committee member Tom Hunt MP held a video call with Dr Daniel Allen, an animal geographer who started a petition calling for tighter laws on pet theft, and other campaigners on this issue. The petition was due to be debated in Parliament before Westminster Hall sittings, where petitions debates are held, had to be suspended due to social distancing rules.
September 13
2019
Government petition closed with 117,453 signatures.
February 26
2019
September 11
2019
Debbie Matthews, Jayne Hayes, Gareth Johnson MP, Dr Daniel Allen, Ross Thomson MP, Professor John Cooper QC and Richard Jordan deliver the Pet Theft Reform petition to 10 Downing Street.
August 8
2018
Government petition closed with 107,352 signatures.
July 3
2018
Ten Minute Rule Bill, 'Pets (Theft) Bill'. Sponsored by Ross Thomson MP, drafted by Professor John Cooper QC.
Click this link for more information on the Pets (Theft) Bill 2017-2019.
July 2
2018
Dr Daniel Allen's petition to 'Reclassify the theft of a pet to a specific crime in its own right' gained 107,352 signatures. The debate, chaired by Mike Hill MP, took place on Monday 2 July 2018 at 4.30pm. The full debate video, transcript and research are available here.
July 2, 2018
Pet Theft Reform team and supporters at Westminster Hall. Gareth Johnson MP sponsored the MP drop-in, this was followed by the House of Commons petitions committee debate.
