This petition was submitted during the 2017-2019 parliament
Rejected petition Make it so killing a working animal recklessly/deliberately is animal cruelty
In law, dogs, horses, asses, mules, sheep, goats and cows are defined as property, so damage to them, whether recklessly or deliberately, is defined as criminal damage. This law needs to be changed to make it animal cruelty.
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Criminal Damage carries a lighter sentence than Animal Cruelty and often won't prohibit the perpetrator from owning animals in the future.
These animals are often treasured family members and the criminal damage charge and sentence is nowhere near suitable for the injuring or killing of a pet for the people who loved it.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Petitions need to call on the UK Government or Parliament to take a specific action.
It is already an offence to cause unnecessary suffering to any animal, so we're not sure what else you'd like the Government or Parliament to do. Anyone who is cruel to an animal, or does not provide for its welfare needs, may be banned from owning animals, fined up to £20,000 and/or sent to prison.
You could start a new petition explaining clearly what you would like the Government or Parliament to do.
You might also like to consider signing this petition:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/244552
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.