Rejected petition Legislation reform to protect cats from predatory dog attacks.
My cat Rocky was killed in the street by next doors dog who escaped. A year later this October My other cat Tidder was lying in our fenced off back garden in our flower beds when the same dog escaped again from next door but this time over my newly built fence and killed her as well. she died in my arms bloody, torn, and in pain. The police were not interested. Nobody cared. I was left without justice and my neighbours dogs ensure that nobody can safely keep a cat in our street without risk.
More details
Current law treats cats as "chattel"—mere property—ignoring their sentience and the deep emotional bonds they share with owners. While the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act and the Dangerous Dogs Act provide criminal recourse for attacks on cattle or assistance dogs, no such protection exists for domestic cats.
Currently, a dog-on-cat fatality is dismissed by police as a "civil matter". This creates a "protection gap" where owners are left without justice, even when a dog invades a private garden to kill. This "one-bite" culture ignores the fact that predatory aggression is a public safety risk.
The Senedd has the devolved power to lead on animal welfare. By introducing Strict Liability for private property intrusions and recognizing Emotional Indemnity, Wales can ensure that cats are protected as companions, not just property. Justice must reflect the true value of the bond and the trauma of the loss.
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s about something that the Senedd or Welsh Government is not responsible for.
While animal welfare is devolved, Paragraph 44 of Schedule 7A to GoWA expressly reserves the powers over "Dangerous dogs and dogs dangerously out of control". Amending the "Dangerous Dogs Act", as suggested, would require legislation at Westminster.
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