I am writing this petition out of personal grief and a sense of responsibility towards all pet owners in our country. I recently lost my beloved cat, who was neutered and microchipped. After days of searching, I was informed by our local council that they had picked him up from the road and disposed of him without checking for a microchip. This is not an isolated incident; many councils across the country do not perform these checks.

Why is this the case? If a pet is killed on a motorway or major trunk road in England, then Highways England are required to scan the microchip and inform the owner. But for local authority roads it’s a different story. While 92% of local councils have a form of arrangement in place to scan cats, only about 75% are actually informing the microchip company, who then contact the owner. So it’s a postcode lottery.

Our pets are more than just animals; they are family members who provide us with unconditional love and companionship. They deserve dignity in death as much as they do in life. The simple act of scanning for a microchip can bring closure to grieving families and ensure that our pets are treated with respect. A significant number of pets could be saved if councils were legally obligated to check for microchips on deceased animals found on roads.

We urge lawmakers to enact legislation making it mandatory for all councils to check deceased cats and dogs found on roads for microchips, thereby allowing families like ours the opportunity to say goodbye properly.

Please sign this petition if you believe in treating all lives - human or animal - with dignity and respect. Your signature can make a difference.