I am writing this petition with a heavy heart, having recently lost my beloved cat to an aggressive dog that had previously shown vicious behaviour. The incident occurred on private property, yet the law offered no recourse.

Why? Because there is no specific offence relating to dangerous dogs, to allow prosecution of dog owners whose dogs attack, injure or kill cats. The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 was amended by the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, which extended the law to cover dog attacks on assistance dogs, but not attacks on other animals.

In UK law, dogs enjoy more robust protections than cats - if a dog is attacked or hit by a car for example, it has to be reported and can be pursued legally.

This disparity in legal protection between cats and dogs is not only unfair but also dangerous for our feline companions. It's estimated that there are around 10 million pet cats in the UK alone (PFMA Pet Population Report 2020), all of whom deserve the same level of protection as their canine counterparts. It's time we address this gap in our legal system and ensure that all pets, regardless of species, have equal rights and protections under the law.

We need a change to the Dangerous Dogs Act so that owners can take legal action when their cats are harmed or killed by dogs due to negligence or malicious intent.

Please sign this petition today to urge lawmakers to strengthen legal protections for cats and bring about much-needed change. Together we can make sure no other cat owner has to experience what I did without any possibility of justice being served.