The Animal Welfare Act 2006 was designed to support the prevention of harm, suffering and distress caused to animals and to promote and encourage correct animal welfare processes and principles. It gives a duty of care to owners, those who work with animals and those who are in control of animals. Magistrates have a range of sanctions available to them in the event of finding someone guilty under the act, however I believe in the real world these sanctions are not doing enough to actually stop cruelty, harm and suffering from occurring. I believe they are not strong or severe enough to act as a deterrent nor do they do enough to rehabilitate, re-educate and punish offenders. I believe the sanctions need improving and redeveloped to become stronger, promote the act and make sure the act actually holds legitimacy. Currently under the act, even for the worst crimes, the maximum custodial sentences available are only up to 6 months. Other sanctions include maximum fines of £20,000, taking the animal away, banning contact with animals and/or destruction of the animal. The Animal Welfare Act has been designed to evolve over time and change people's attitudes towards animals. I believe increasing custodial sentences up to a maximum of 4 years, raising maximum fines to £100,000 and looking into other sanctions which could be improved or introduced would promote and strengthen the act, give it more weight and discourage people from committing offences. It is hoped that together, one signature at a time, we can update the act to make it more effective, improving animal care and welfare, reducing cruelty, harm and distress, discourage offending and promoting and upholding the legitimacy of the act. Please show the power we all have to make change by signing this petition and urging the government to take notice. Thank you!