Please support this proposed change in the law, for drivers in RTAs with a cat to stop and report it.  This may mean that a cat with life threatening injuries gets the chance to live, rather than being left by the road to die.

To the UK Government - Please amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 s.170(8) to include CATS in the definition of 'animal'.

Most weeks, I become aware of a cat being hit by a vehicle (the driver then immediately drives away) or a dead cat being found in or at the side of a road.  This is heart breaking for the owner(s), who often won't have the closure of knowing what has happened to their pet that never came home.

It is traumatic for anyone who has the misfortune to witness such an accident, but has the integrity and compassion to care for the pet, when the driver has fled.  It is nothing less than callous, inhumane and cowardly of those responsible, to leave the scene.  Accidents happen, be kind and be accountable for your actions.

Any animal (pet or wildlife) would get my care in such circumstances, but unfortunately there are many uncaring individuals in this world.

Section 170(1)(b)(ii) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 places a duty on the driver of any mechanical vehicle on a road or any other public place, to stop and report any accident that causes damage to an animal.  Subsection 170(8) defines an “animal” to mean horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep, pig, goat or dog.

I am petitioning for this subsection to be amended to include 'cat'.  Many of us have cats as pets and they are as important to us as having a pet dog. 

The Government has announced that microchipping is set to become a legal requirement for cats, with penalties of up to £500 for those who fail to comply.  This is to increase the likelihood of them being reunited with their owner/s if they get lost or stolen.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that as many as 2.8 million cats in the UK are unchipped, meaning that it would be difficult to reunite them with their owner if they get lost or stolen.  Under the new plans, all keepers in England must ensure their cat is microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details are stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database linked to the microchip. Owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or may face a fine of up to £500.

If the Government recognises the importance of cats to their owners if they are lost, then it should recognise the even greater importance to owners of being made aware that their cat has been injured or killed in a road accident.  'Cat' should be added to the subsection 170(8) definition of animal.

If this change to the Road Traffic Act is made, it will mean the following will apply to any driver who is in collision with a cat.

Section (2)The driver of the [F1mechanically propelled vehicle] must stop and, if required to do so by any person having reasonable grounds for so requiring, give his name and address and also the name and address of the owner and the identification marks of the vehicle.

Section (3)If for any reason the driver of the [F1mechanically propelled vehicle] does not give his name and address under subsection (2) above, he must report the accident.

Section (4)A person who fails to comply with subsection (2) or (3) above is guilty of an offence.

The Government has the power to amend this legislation.  This change in the law will increase the likelihood of injured cats promptly receiving urgent medical care (increasing their chances of surviving life threatening injuries) and will ensure the owner(s) of the cat are made aware of the accident.  Without this change, cat owners will be required to microchip their cat(s) (and fined if they don't comply), but they won't be informed if that same pet cat has been injured or deceased in a road accident.