{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/777689.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":777689,"attributes":{"action":"Apply animal sentience in criminal law and recognise harmed animals as victims","background":"Apply the legal recognition of animal sentience within criminal law and sentencing, ensure every harmed animal—including those that have died—is recognised as a separate victim in cruelty prosecutions, and strengthen sentencing for serious and large-scale animal cruelty.","additional_details":"Although UK law recognises animals as sentient, this is not consistently reflected in criminal law. In large-scale cruelty cases, animals that have died may not be recognised as individual victims, meaning the full scale of harm is not reflected in prosecutions or sentencing. The law should ensure every harmed animal, living or deceased, is recognised as a victim and that sentencing better reflects the seriousness of these offences.","committee_note":null,"state":"rejected","signature_count":6,"created_at":"2026-07-20T17:16:16.912Z","updated_at":"2026-08-17T11:28:16.716Z","rejected_at":"2026-08-17T11:28:16.719Z","opened_at":null,"closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-07-21T08:49:40.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"debate_scheduled_on":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":null,"rejection":{"code":"duplicate","details":"You may wish to sign this petition which seeks similar action:\r\n\r\n'Animal cruelty & Neglect cases at Court should be charged per animal.'\r\nhttps://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/776918"},"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[],"topics":[]}}}