“We very much welcome this recommendation and are pleased that the issue was raised in yesterday’s House of Commons debate,” explained Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s Advocacy Manager. “We hope that Defra and the Home Office will review this issue and take the opportunity to give cats more effective protection from dog attacks under proposed criminal law covering dangerous dogs and anti-social behaviour.

“On average there is one reported fatal dog attack on a cat every week in England alone and tragically the current law does not provide adequate protection from such attacks. Every incidence of a serious, often fatal, attack on a cat is a tragedy for the cat and its owner and something that should be regarded as a criminal offence within the proposed legislation that will be presented to Parliament for approval.”

Since the EFRA enquiry the Government has announced that measures to tackle dangerous dogs will be part of the new joint Home Office/Defra Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Bill. Cats Protection is now waiting to hear whether Defra and the Home Office will take up EFRA’s recommendation and ensure that this new Bill extends to attacks on protected animals.

~ Ends ~

For further information or an interview, please contact Cats Protection’s Media Office on 01825 741 911 or email media.office@cats.org.uk

Notes to editors:

1. Cats Protection is the UK’s leading feline welfare charity and helps over 235,000 unwanted cats each year through a national network of 260 volunteer-run branches and 30 adoption centres.

2. Cats Protection’s registered charity number is 203644 (England and Wales) and SC037711 (Scotland). The charity’s vision is a world where every cat is treated with kindness and an understanding of its needs.

3. Founded as the Cats Protection League in 1927, the charity adopted the name Cats Protection in 1998. We ask that you use the name Cats Protection when referring to the charity in all published material.

4. More information about the work of Cats Protection can be found at www.cats.org.uk

5. To learn more about EFRA’s report on the Draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill visit http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/environment-food-and-rural-affairs-committee/news/ddda-bill-publication/

6. To view information about the new Anti-social Behaviour Crime And Policing Bill visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/antisocial-behaviour-policing-and-crime-measures-unveiled  and https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/anti-social-behaviour-crime-and-police-bill