A petition aimed at Parliament calling for legislation to make drivers alert police if they run over a cat has secured considerable support from Tunbridge Wells. The issue of dead or injured cats left at the roadside has received the highest number of signatories, at 744 from the Kent constituency.
Currently, there is no legal requirement for a driver to report an incident of running over a cat. But by law, a driver has to inform the police if they hit a dog and stay on the scene to assist the animal as required. Not doing so is a criminal offence.
The petition has the backing of Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark. He said “I am very much in favour of this becoming law, it seems very cruel that someone can run over a much loved family pet and simply drive away. A cat is just as much part of many families as a dog and it seems only fair that the law is changed to recognise this.”
Transport Minister Richard Holden said he believed microchipping was the most effective way of dealing with the issue of reuniting cats with owners, and the Government was introducing this legislation.
Motorists should be required to report collisions with cats in the same way as collisions with dogs
He said “In summary, the Government believe that microchipping is the most effective and quickest way of returning a cat to its owner. We are progressing further with it, both through the call for evidence and through the new best practices guidelines that are coming down the line. In coming weeks, microchipping legislation for England is being introduced, and we hope to see that happen across the rest of the United Kingdom as well. We remain committed to microchipping; we look forward to the introduction of legislation that will make it compulsory, and to making further improvements later in the year.”
The petition was started by Olivia Holland-Rose from London who wants to change legislation so families will not face the heartbreak of learning their pet has been hit by a car and left for dead.
The 33-year-old said she was grief-stricken following the death of her British longhair/Somali Cross called D’Artagnan in January, and horrified his body was left on the roadside. The wording of her petition said “The impact on a persons’ mental health when their cat is hit by a car can be profound and devastating, and cat owners should be entitled to the same due process afforded to dog owners.
A debate on the issue in Parliament happened on Monday 9th January, following the petition which attracted nearly 102,500 signatures. MPs proposed that drivers could be fined if they failed to tell the authorities that they had hit a cat. Under current laws, drivers face a fine of up to £5,000 if they do not tell police if they have run into dogs, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys or mules but not cats.
Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop & report accidents involving specific animals including dogs, but not cats. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets, but many dogs are pets, not working animals. There is a distinct difference thought, as dogs tend to be on a lead with their owner, whilst cats tend to be out on their own and can cross the road at will.
