It is heartbreaking to read everyday the increase of animal cruelty in our Society.  The increase is epidemic and in our day and age animals should be treated with the respect they deserve.  I would like tougher sentencing such as prison terms for animal abusers in the UK and will not rest until I have managed to achieve this.  The weak and feeble system we have at the moment allows these abusers to get away with what they are doing and sometimes they get a ban on keeping animals.  A ban on keeping animals which is not followed up and frankly cannot be guaranteed or monitored.  This is not acceptable.    The law in the United Kingdom needs to be changed to state that animals, like humans, are "sentient" beings.  "To say that animals are sentient is to state explicitly that they can experience both positive and negative emotions, including pain and distress,".  There is nothing at the moment to stop people abusing animals and tougher sentencing will hopefully become a deterrent.  Please sign this petition and help all those defenceless animals have a say to make Animal Cruelty a crime punishable with prison time as well as heavy fines.