Government urged to stand by promise to increase jail sentences
Animal welfare charities have paid a visit to No 10 Downing Street this week, to urge the government to stand by its promise to increase maximum prison sentences for animal cruelty.
Representatives from 11 charities went to meet the Prime Minister’s environment adviser Lord Randall - including Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and the RSPCA.
Joining them at No 10 was two-year-old Lakeland terrier Jet, who was shot in the head four times with an air rifle and left for dead by the ex-boyfriend of his previous owner. Jet’s veterinary treatment cost £5,000 but miraculously he survived, though his vision and hearing were affected.
The RSPCA managed to trace the perpetrator and he was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering earlier this month. He was sentenced to 200 hours of community service, ordered to pay over £1,600 in costs and disqualified from keeping animals for 10 years.
Environment secretary Michael Gove first revealed plans to increase the maximum prison sentence for animal abuse from six months to five years in September 2017. However, despite repeated promises from the government, changes to the legislation are yet to be made.
RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “It’s been more than 18 months since the Government pledged to increase penalties for the most serious cases of animal cruelty – and we’re still waiting for them to fulfil their promise…
“A maximum sentence of six months in prison for beating a dog to death with a shovel or throwing a cat off the roof of a building simply isn’t enough. The courts need to have longer sentences at their disposal for the worst animal abusers - and they need these powers as soon as possible.”
Image © RSPCA
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
