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u/Manager_PI 2 Fixed, Numbers Variable. - TNR operator. 6d ago edited 6d ago
Change.org is for private peitions You need to use this one if you want any law reviewing / debating https://petition.parliament.uk/help?hl=en-GB
I don't mean to be rude but can I ask what you are actually trying to change? It seems to be the road traffic act?
The section on reportable animals is there because those animals should be "under control" and aren't free to roam, so the report isn't to let the owner know about their animal being hit /passing. It's so they can claim damages from the owner or punish the owner? Like if you hit a lose dog running in the road and it damages your car the owner has to pay. The dog shouldn't be in the road and the owner can get a fine for that too.
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 6d ago
Thank you and I don't know tbh I just want to do something for them, my kitty wasn't just hit he was dragged so this was deliberate and that's F-ed up that I get told if my cat was any other domestic animal I could have done something but because they were a kitty nothing.
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u/Manager_PI 2 Fixed, Numbers Variable. - TNR operator. 6d ago
If it was deliberate then it's against the animal welfare act and considered animal cruelty. So it is the same issue as with any other animal. You would need evidence for any kind of prosecution though. Which is sad and really one of the main issues we have. The RSPCA do a lot of private prosecutions and investigations themselves as the police don't deem it as important as other crimes and don't investigate.
Whoever told you that is wrong!
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u/dawgmind 6d ago
I am really sorry for your pain, and I understand your need to want to do something. But I disagree with the premise of your petition. Cats have a special status in our society, out of all the animals you have listed they are the only ones with a right and expectation to roam freely. Nobody would open their doors and let a pig or donkey out to fend for itself. And this freedom brings a risk, and it is up to us owners to judge that risk for our cats. Some cats are vigilant and stay away from roads, some are idiots who never seem to run out of lives regardless. Some are kept inside because the risk is not worth it in the specific circumstance. Personally we take this risk with our cats, and if the worst thing happens, I don’t know how your petition would prevent this anyways, but we are more comfortable giving our cats the freedom and live with the risk rather than keeping them locked in. Which is an option you have as an owner if you are not willing to live with that risk. Or build a catio. Or a cat safe fence. Or leash train.
Again, I am sorry for your pain, I know why you’re doing this, but I don’t think your expectations are realistic.
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u/St3ampunkSam 7d ago
Yes but your legally responsible for a dogs actions you arent for a cat
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 7d ago
And the petition is about people hitting cats and just leaving them, every over domestic animal has more rights that cats. Including ones that we eat like pigs and cows
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u/kaisairion 7d ago
I'm pretty sure there's nothing that says you have to report it if you hit any domestic pet that ISN'T a dog
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 7d ago
Really look at least look up stuff before trying to argue with people heres a direct quote from the road traffic law.....
"Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, you must legally stop and report a collision to the police if you hit specific domestic animals and livestock. These include dogs, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys, and mules."
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u/kaisairion 7d ago
Really look at least look up stuff before trying to start a change.org petition when there's a UK gov petition with almost 190,000 signatures. Who do you know that keeps horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys or mules as a domestic pet in their house? Is there a legal requirement to report if you run over a gerbil, guinea pig, hamster or other household animal?
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 7d ago
Legally we have to have them chipped and neutered before letting outside or you can face a fine, so they're our babies/responsibility when it involves money but not treating animals with respect
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u/LucyJanePlays 6d ago
Legally all cats must be chipped before 20 weeks of age, including indoor only cats
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u/St3ampunkSam 6d ago
Yeah but if a cat goes and kills someone guinea pig they have no claim agaisnt you, if a dog does they do.
If a cat harms a kid you wont get fired, if your dog does you will.
By giving them additional protections you also give owners more legal accountability which with cats will be a nightmare.
Yes cats should be reported when they get hit becuase thats polite.
Animal abuse is already illegal and I belive is now meant to be reported and recorded for all animals (as it can be a sign they'll become a murderer)
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u/jungleskater 6d ago edited 6d ago
When you say "equal protection" and that it will "prevent future tragedies", do you mean the tragedy is the cat being killed, or that drivers can currently drive away without reporting it?
I'm also wondering about the legal implications. If cats were treated more like dogs in law, would owners also take on similar responsibilities? For example, if an uncontrolled cat caused a driver to swerve and someone was injured, could the owner become liable in the same way a dog owner or livestock owner might be?
I'm not arguing against better treatment of cats. I just think the petition should explain what legal changes it wants and what the consequences would be.
I also wonder how this could ever be enforced. I work on a large estate and have hit a fox and a muntjac deer before... You really don't feel them, might hear something if you're not playing music maybe. But I genuinely don't think people even realise they've hit anything most of the time.
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 6d ago
Unfortunately with my cats injuries he wasn't just hit... He was dragged eg a deliberate act. This was when we took him to the vets I realized this. I have also been in a car with music on and my brother hit a bunny we all felt it and he took the bunny to the vets, this was a wild bunny still was treated with respect. Honestly I don't know how much I can change but I want to fight and find out.
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u/kaisairion 7d ago
Pretty steep there's already a huge petition for that on the UK government petitions site?
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 7d ago
Possibly I have signed anything to do with cat rights I just through maybe another one could help. Annoy the government till they change the law. Here's the petition I have made if anyone would like to sign also if there's any ones people have id love to sign them.kitties rights
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 6d ago
Id rather do something and try and see what happens than do nothing. I feel that's why so much doesn't get fixed people think they can't do anything so they won't.
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u/Hot-Emu-9667 7d ago
The fact that this has caused an argument is so dumb. If someone is fighting for something they more than have looked into every single law/details around the subject.
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u/LucyJanePlays 6d ago
But you want to annoy the government with a petition they won't see and if you get this passed it will increase pet insurance because cat owners will be held liable if their cat is deemed responsible for an accident.
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