"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to: Introduce 'Compulsory
     Dog licencing and microchipping'.

     The new Animal welfare Act has sadly failed to reduce or
     control the increasing numbers of pets that are dumped and
     abandoned. We have become a throw away society with animals
     increasingly becoming objects of cruelty and abandonment. The
     credit crunch has become the ideal excuse to discard peoples`
     unwanted pets but in reality has little to no truth as cutting
     down on a few small personal luxuries would easily cover any
     increased pet bills. Traceability and accountability are key in
     addressing the increased abuse of our beloved animals and with
     charities facing a bleak financial future the outlook for
     abandoned animals is very grim. Simply licence and register ALL
     dog / cat owners to help reduce impulse purchases and ease in
     which these animals can be tossed aside.

A similar petition has only obtained 20 signatures which highlights to causes.

Is it simply that our so called animal loving population have no interest in seeing their pets indentifiable and traceable if lost or do not feel that they are worth a little monitary imput to make all animals protected under a registration scheme.

Or is it that the public are just not aware ?.

Why is such a simple cost effective scheme not supported by the Animal Welfare charities, such as the RSPCA who constantly fill our media with statements claiming they are over crowded with abandoned and " lost animals " and calling for more money from the public to help address this serious growing problem.

Where are the media who are very quick to highlight animal cruelty stories and the MP`s that fill Parliament when animal issues such as the hunting ban is debated ?.

To myself, someone that has dedicated over 45 years to animal welfare it seems that with leaving serious issues pertaining to animal welfare such as. a}  Addressing the issue of fireworks which kills, maims and terrifies thousands of animals each year, all of which is well documented yet ignored.

b} Making pet owners accountable, responsible and traceable for their animals thus reducing the all too high numbers of abandoned, unwanted and abused pets.

The recession is a poor excuse for the increased numbers of abandoned pets and is being used all too freely as some form of justiiable reasoning for this callous act. The truth is all too simple, pets are too easily obtained and with this throw away society all too easily disposed of with at present little to no traceability or accountability.

Without cruelty and abandonment perhaps there would be no real need for so many animal charities and are some concerned that they would become extinct. The new Animal Welfare Act has failed in certain areas and unless with secondary legislation seeing the issues such as fireworks and animal abuse and abandonment dealt with nothing will improve.

All too much of the animal welfare legislation is made by "SELECTIVE" animal rights agendas and public opinion, entertainment and revenue appear far more important than actually improving animal welfare.