Petition · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Distinguish pets from other types of property in civil and family proceedings
Closed
5,147 signatures
What the petition asks
We want legislation to:
1. Make a pet's welfare the paramount consideration when Courts resolve disputes over their ownership and possession.
2. Recognise a pet's true value as being the value to its owner, not just its open market price.
3. Require Court cases regarding pets to be expedited.
1. Make a pet's welfare the paramount consideration when Courts resolve disputes over their ownership and possession.
2. Recognise a pet's true value as being the value to its owner, not just its open market price.
3. Require Court cases regarding pets to be expedited.
We feel that pets are cherished members of the family, not mere possessions. While the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 acknowledges that some animals are sentient beings, we feel that this is not recognised in civil and family proceedings and the law needs to catch up with how society views pets today.
We believe there is an urgent need for legislative change so that a pet is no longer regarded as a replaceable item such as a table or a waistcoat.
We believe there is an urgent need for legislative change so that a pet is no longer regarded as a replaceable item such as a table or a waistcoat.
Timeline
| 27 Mar 2025 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 27 Sep 2025 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
5,147
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
27 Mar 2025
Closed
27 Sep 2025
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 29 Jul 2026.