Closed petition Require criminal record checks before the sale/adoption of an animal

Closed on 11 May 2021

Change the law to prevent the sale or adoption of animals from breeders, pet shops or rescues without first performing a background check, with those with a history of animal abuse prevented from buying or adopting animals. This could save countless innocent lives.

The media has highlighted the need for UK animal abuse register. However, a separate system is unrealistic due to cost. The Disclosure and Barring Service mechanism is in place and could be used to prevent sales of animal by pet shops, breeders, or rescues [and others] to those who abuse. This law would affect ‘any description of vertebrate’ which includes all mammals, birds, fish and reptiles.