As a resident of Northern Ireland, I am appalled by the lack of enforcement of our animal welfare laws. Only a week ago, I came across a dog living in abysmal conditions; a friend and I took a wrong turn down a country lane at the end of which stood a derelict building that had collapsed in on itself.  Attached to this building was an outhouse with huge holes in the roof, a mesh wire door and a dog locked inside covered in her own urine and faeces, faeces which covered the floor and had been there for so long they had become blue moulded.  In the corner lay a bucket of putrid sludge water and a bowl of livestock feed for the dog to eat.  There was nowhere for her to sleep or lay down besides the faeces covered ground.  The dog was desperate for attention from me yet cowered when a male came toward her; hugely indicative that she had been abused by her male owner.  Despite fighting tirelessly for an entire week against the police and animal welfare organizations, my pleas fell on deaf ears. These authorities deemed these horrendous conditions acceptable and took no action other than leaving a note for the owner with information as to how to take better care of his dog. This lack of concern for animal wellbeing is a distressing reflection of outmoded laws in Northern Ireland.

Regrettably, this is far from an isolated incident. RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) statistics show a disturbing increase in animal cruelty cases in Northern Ireland. Thus, it's evident that not only do our laws fail to protect animals, but they also do little to discourage animal cruelty.

The Animal Welfare Act 2006 is outdated, with its scope and repercussions falling short of what this problem necessitates. In the face of abhorrent neglect and abuse, the current maximum sentence of six months in prison hardly seems adequate. England, Scotland and Wales have already acknowledged this inadequacy, and updated their laws to enforce up to five years in prison for animal cruelty.

It's high time Northern Ireland followed suit and revised its animal welfare legislation. We demand an increase in penalties, the introduction of stricter laws against all forms of animal abuse, and regular welfare checks for pets in home environments.

We need your voices in this vital struggle for animal justice. Please sign the petition and demand a revision to our outdated laws. Together, we can bring about a change that benefits both animals and society.

Be a voice for the voiceless, thank you.