West Dorset MP Chris Loder is calling for custodial sentences for animal cruelty to be increased ten-fold, from six months to up to five years.

Mr Loder spoke during the House of Commons Committee debate on February 3, in which his Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill was scrutinised in detail. The MP brought the Bill to Parliament as a Private Members’ Bill in 2020.
In 2019 the RSPCA received 1,218,364 phone calls for help, investigated more than 93,362 complaints of alleged cruelty and secured 1,425 convictions by private prosecution to protect animals against those who break the laws.

Mr Loder said: “Today we are one step closer to increasing the maximum custodial penalty for those who abuse animals. The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world, but in terms of penalties we are currently amongst the lowest. I am so pleased that this Bill is making progress today, sending a clear signal to potential offenders that there is no place for animal cruelty in this country.”

The MP says that, whilst this Bill is about animals, it is worth noting the strong link between acts of violence against animals and acts of violence against people; and that tackling animal abuse is an important factor in tackling domestic abuse as well.

Mr Loder was inspired to bring forward the Bill by his own dog Poppy, a springer spaniel who he rescued after she had been abandoned at the roadside on a stormy night several years ago, having very clearly been mistreated. Now Poppy is a treasured family pet and her story has prompted him to call for the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences to be increased.

The MP will continue to press for this important Bill to become law; and it now moves forward to the penultimate stage in the House of Commons.

For further information visit chrisloder.co.uk/animalwelfare.

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