Tony Blair, Hear This - Pets Have Issues Too!
The company has pledged to campaign on several key issues currently facing pet owners, after identifying a number of common concerns among its customers. Now, with the support of MPs and relevant animal welfare organisations, Direct Line aims to give pets and their owners a voice by encouraging a review of the legislative process and improving consumer education.
Among the main concerns identified as part of the MORI research conducted on Direct Line's behalf are:
Standards of Kennels and Catteries
Pet owners are concerned about the standards of many boarding kennels and catteries in the UK. In fact 51% of UK's dog owners and 46% of cat owners would rather not board their pet but do not feel they have any alternative and over a quarter of pet owners would not consider boarding their pet at all.
Understanding the Pets Abroad Scheme
Dogs and cats have been allowed to travel abroad and return to the UK without going into quarantine since February 2000, yet around 50% of pet owners don't fully understand how the Pets Abroad Scheme works and 1 in 2 think taking your pet abroad is still too risky because of rabies
Stray Pets and Identification
Over two thirds (67%) of pet owners think that the UK has a problem with stray pets and 9 out of 10 dog owners feel it would be acceptable if the Government made the proposed voluntary dog identification programme enforceable by law.
Pet Theft
Pet owners feel the penalties for pet theft are too lenient. Currently in the magistrates' courts the theft of a pet is regarded in the same way as the theft of a video recorder or television. One third of all pet owners believe either community (17%) or a prison sentence (18%) is suitable punishment for someone who has stolen a pet for the first time.
Equal rights of cats
At present cats have no legal status in law so people are not legally obliged to report any incident involving a cat (as they would if it were a dog). Similarly, a stray cat can be put down without efforts having been made to find the owner, unlike the situation for dogs. 7 out of 10 pet owners think that cats should be granted the same legal status as dogs.
As outlined in the Manifesto the steps Direct Line has identified in order to tackle each issue are:
- In conjunction with the RSPCA review the current licensing regime operated by the local authorities over kennels and catteries and where necessary seek improvements.
- Develop an education campaign so pet owners are better informed about the Pets Abroad Scheme.
- Lobby the Government to increase the level of pet identification for both dogs and cats.
- Call for stiffer penalties to be imposed on those who steal pets.
- Campaign for a change in the law to equalise the status of cats and dogs.
By taking these measures and by working closely with all relevant parties Direct Line believes that change can be achieved for the benefit of all pets and their owners.
Tony Crittenden, Chief Officer of the Inspectorate, RSPCA said:
We welcome support from any organisation in campaigning for improvements to animal welfare. Legislation needs to be constantly reviewed and, where necessary, improved to ensure that animals get a fair deal.
Claire Bessant, Chief Executive, Feline Advisory Bureau said:
The Feline Advisory Bureau is pleased that Direct Line is looking seriously at pet issues and owners' concerns. FAB has been working to raise standards of boarding catteries for many years and is delighted that many organisations are now aware of the problems and are working together to find solutions. Owners should be able to go and enjoy a holiday confident that their cat is safe and happy in a good cattery.
Deana Selby, NCDL's Media Relations Manager said:
The NCDL welcomes Direct Line's Pet Manifesto as a step in the right direction for the rights of the nation's pets. As the UK's largest dog welfare charity, we believe that 'A Dog Is For Life' and so our concerns are always for the dogs' welfare throughout the whole of its life.
Every year over 120,000 healthy stray dogs are destroyed purely because their owner cannot be traced or a new home cannot be found. The NCDL encourages all dog owners to microchip their dogs to help reduce this number. We support Direct Line's pledge to encourage voluntary identification schemes.
Gerry Steinberg MP Labour (City of Durham) said:
I am pleased to offer my support to Direct Line's Pet Manifesto. It is important that as a nation of animal lovers we do all we can to ensure that the needs of pets and their owners are represented in both the public and political arena.
Terry Lewis MP Labour (Worsley) said:
Direct Line's pet manifesto has my support. All the issues raised represent my and my constituents concerns.
Brian White MP, Labour (Milton Keynes North East)
The introduction of the 'Pets Abroad' scheme was a welcome development but it is disappointing that so many pet owners still have reservations about the scheme. I support the campaign to raise public awareness of how to travel abroad with pets.
David Amess, Conservative (Southend West)
I welcome Direct Line's pet manifesto. We are a nation of animal lovers and we ignore the issues which affect them at our peril.
Diana Wallis MEP said:
The loss of pets especially cats can be a distressing event. It is frequently elderly people who are often dependent on their pets for company and who are hardest hit by the loss of their sole companion. It has been a longstanding anomaly that cats are treated differently to dogs. This manifesto goes a long way towards rectifying this anomaly.
Chris Price, Pet Business Manager at Direct Line said:
We are extremely pleased that our Manifesto is supported by organisations, MPs and MEPs who are at the heart of animal welfare and we feel that this alone proves that when it comes to issues concerning our customers and their pets, we mean business.
Technical details
Photographs of Direct Line presenting their Pet Manifesto at Westminster to the relevant MPs accompanied by dogs and cats are available.
1,002 of Direct Line's Pet Insurance customers ("policyholders") were interviewed by telephone by MORI Financial Services between Friday 1st and 7th March 2001.