Good News Re Pet Theft

[pat2604]

And not before time.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-58423967

[aelmpvw]

good news but why does the law have to be so complicated? i thought theft was theft

[davebro]

er - because theft of something valued at say £1000 might have attracted a fine or a community order. Maybe this new law puts a higher value on pets with appropriately stricter sentences?

[Lie-in King]

Excellent news.

[dannyk13]

Ael //thought theft was theft//
It is, but the law has decided that the stress of having a pet stolen is greater than losing inanimate objects and requires special attention.

[barry1010]

I think this law recognises that the theft of a beloved dog has a different impact on the entire family than the theft of dad's watch. Could also carry a longer prison sentence than theft of property - that has not yet been disclosed.

[aelmpvw]

^ fair point

[Peter Pedant]

ael
you have to read carefully ( in a friendly way)
it has always been theft of an objaaaaay !
but this is a separate crime
where the weeping of the owner, "my poor bay-bee! are they feeding my poor bay-bee" plays a part in punishment

the beeb did this over duty to report child abuse a few days ago.
there is a duty to report under the Children Act 1989
this was making failure to report a crime
I wrote them a severe email

[ToraToraTora]

great news.

[ladybirder]

About time! Besides the owner being so distressed the poor animal must be so frightened being taken away from all it knows. If my little chap loses sight of me when we're out he shivers and shakes and foams at the mouth but as soon as he sees me again his tail starts wagging like crazy. I don't think he would survive being stolen.

[dannyk13]

According to the Mail offenders face up to 7 years in jail:-
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9953121/Pet-thieves-face-lengthy-prison-terms-incidents-TRIPLE-lockdown.html

[Canary42]

Yet another unnecessary law - it's theft, simple.

We keep adding these speciality laws (like the using mobile in car) which nibble away at perfectly adequate existing laws thereby weakening them.

And why do we do it - possibly as vote-catching populism, possibly as money-spinners for bent lawyers.

[Canary42]

/// It is, but the law has decided that the stress of having a pet stolen is greater than losing inanimate objects and requires special attention.///

So now lots of different laws depending on the value of the stolen item - marvellous.

[ToraToraTora]

have a day off canary, it's not unnecessary, pets are currently treated as chattels. This new law will make it more akin to kidnapping and rightly so. I know the loss of pets causes huge heartache and the savages that steal them should be banged up, end of.

[Mamyalynne]

Excellent news and long overdue.

[AuntPG]

Canary // So now lots of different laws depending on the value of the stolen item - marvellous.//

Those are the rules at the moment -steal a £1000 watch and you get a different sentence than if you steal a £10 watch. Thats the whole pont of the change. A beloved family pet could be stolen and if someone is caught, they will only get a sentence corresponding to the market value of the animal at the time. Abduction is a much more serious offence than theft.

[barry1010]

Idling thinking about the new law in respect of cats. In my local group several people have complained over the years about their cats going missing and it turns out the cat has simply adopted a new owner. Original owners very upset, demand their cat back and demand people stop feeding cats that don't belong to them.

Now, could this situation amount to theft?

[dannyk13]

Canary, obviously not a pet owner.

[wolf63]

It is a good step. A dog isn't just a dog to its family - they are not inanimate objects, they have personalities and they bond with their family. The person who steals them should be punished accordingly.

Cats are also family members but they do willingly leave one family and move in with another - maybe better food or better conditions. If the original owner demands their cat back the cat will just be as likely to just up and leave again.

[AuntPG]

When the new Laws are revealed I think there will be clear line between abduction, and just a dog or cat wandering off and being picked up by someone. The onus will be on the owners to ensure the animal is secured at home, or on a leash, when the theft/abduction takes place.

[youngmafbog]

//And why do we do it//

Well Canary, probably because lefty liberal (like yourself) lawyers keep finding technicalities to get round the laws we have. So they have to be tightened or made more specific.

As for mobiles, in case it has slipped your mind, technology has moved on since your day and the laws were never made for such devices, so again needed adaptation.

I think this is great news. Bange em up for as long as possible, and deport the foreigners that do it.