We are calling on lawmakers and political representatives worldwide to fundamentally change how the legal system treats animal abusers. We demand non-negotiable, lifelong bans on animal ownership and handling for ANYONE caught intentionally harming, torturing, or killing a companion animal—regardless of their age.

The global legal framework is completely failing our animals worldwide. In New Zealand, organised "hunt" competitions and localised cruelty and killing of companion and community cats are frequently overlooked, minimised or entirely excused under the guise of "pest control" and conservation. This is a growing concern spreading to other parts of the world, such as the UK.
When an animal is tortured or killed, their life is ended permanently; many of the perpetrators are young and were encouraged by their own parents to carry out this abuse, because they rely on the shield of age to avoid being publicly outed and ostracised. Parents and guardians must protect a child's empathy, not destroy it.
The perpetrator's restrictions, regardless of age, must reflect that absolute outcome. A universal, lifelong animal ban is a straightforward safety measure to protect future animals.
It will:
• BREAK THE INTERGENERATIONAL CYCLE: It stops the cult of abuse from being passed down through generations, forcing parents to seriously consider the empathy and compassion they teach their children.
• PROTECT COMMERCIAL INDUSTRIES: It permanently bars individuals with a history of cruelty from working as farmers, animal breeders, or handlers of working animals (like gundogs), ensuring they can never profit from or have unsupervised control over thousands of vulnerable livestock.
• CREATE A VITAL PUBLIC SAFETY RED FLAG: A formal, lifelong animal abuse ban provides a crucial warning sign for the community, allowing adults to be cautious of new partners or step-parents entering a household with children because animal cruelty and abuse are often a sign of other violent behaviours such as spousal and child abuse.

Furthermore, we demand that conservation efforts shift away from cruel, ineffective community culls. Scientific data proves that true wildlife conservation comes from tackling human-driven habitat destruction and funding humane Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs, which manage populations while treating health issues and parasite loading. Ignoring this, using claims of predation as a valid excuse for inhumane treatment, is unacceptable; cats are not pests; they are part of nature and play a valid role in rodent suppression. 

Evidence to support such a measure is overwhelming. The Animal Legal Defence Fund has consistently reported that states with more stringent animal protection laws also have lower rates of repeat offences and more prosecutorial success in animal cruelty cases. Implementing lifelong bans also protects society by potentially reducing overall violence.

Globally, lawmakers have begun to recognise the significance of these measures. In 2019, the UK implemented Finn’s Law to protect service animals, paving the way for the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Act 2021, which introduced significantly tougher five-year prison sentences for general animal abusers. More recently, the United States signed the PACT Act into law, making specific acts of animal cruelty federal crimes. These legislative measures are important steps, but more is needed.

We call on countries worldwide to harmonise these laws and forge a united front against animal cruelty by implementing stringent lifelong bans. This will not only protect animals, but also cultivate a global culture of compassion and respect for all living beings.

We have an opportunity to effect significant change and craft a future where animal lives are valued and protected. By making our voices heard, we can dismantle the cult of cruelty and champion a world built on respect and empathy.
Sign this petition to demand that governments prioritise the victims who have no voice, hold abusers accountable, and keep animals safe permanently through meaningful legislative action.