I am asking that as animals are by law seen as property, at least the same rules preventing foul play apply.

As with selling a car the responsibility is with the car owner/seller, the same needs to be applied when owners are rehoming/selling dogs. 

Ive just read the tragic story of a two year old female dog that had just given birth and was brutally murdered. She died after being tied to the back of a vehicle and made to run until she could run no more and then was dragged to her death and dumped with the lasso still attached to her collar. She was microchipped when she was found dead but the microchip was not up to date and the culprits not able to be tracked. The previous owners by law do not have to inform the micro chip company and if they don’t there is no way of forcing them to confess who they passed/sold the pet on to.  The murderers are still at large.

If there were Serious penalties, large fine or even jail sentences (if the case warrants) and liability left with the owner moving the pet on (as with cars) I’m sure there’d be much less room for this type of abuse and crime to go with out punishment. I believe it would greatly reduce this type of appalling cruelty.