Animal abusers in England may soon face a five-year prison sentence — 10 times longer than the current maximum sentence of a mere six months for even the most upsetting crimes.
Environment Secretary Michael Gove has decided that for many animal abuse crimes, six months is simply not enough. With the new law on the horizon, the courts will also be able to deal with gangs involved in dogfighting more effectively.
The move follows Scotland, where the government has also recently increased the maximum penalty for animal cruelty crimes to five years imprisonment.
A six-month sentence cannot amount for the suffering and pain animals endure at the hands of a human, and there have been many times where the courts would have preferred to hand out longer sentences but could not.
“These plans will give courts the tools they have requested to deal with the most abhorrent acts,” Mr Gove said.
In April 2016, one man brought several puppies with the sole intention to beat, choke and stab them to death. While such extreme cases of animal cruelty are rare, an average of 1,150 people every year are convicted of animal-abuse related crimes. It is shocking that fewer than five of them receive even the current maximum sentence.
“We are a nation of animal lovers and so we must ensure that those who commit the most shocking cruelty towards animals face suitably tough punishments,” said David Bowles, RSPCA head of public affairs.
As well as having the power to hand out an unlimited fine and ban the offender from owning animals, the courts will have more leeway to sentence offenders according to their crime, without a six-month limit. This new legislation will bring the justice system for animal cruelty in England up to speed with countries such as Australia, Canada, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“We are thrilled that the Government has responded to calls from the RSPCA and members of the public to toughen up sentences for the worst animal abusers. We now feel that those who commit these acts will soon be receiving sentences that reflect the seriousness of their crime and hope this will act as a real deterrent against cruelty and neglect,” said Bowles.
According to the RSPCA, animal abuse reports have been on the rise since 2015, with a total of 20,258 cases involved in reports of violent and deliberate cruelty against animals.
“Most of the complaints we receive involve animals being neglected or not receiving the right care and often we can put that right by offering welfare advice… However, it is shocking that people are still being deliberately cruel in what can be disturbingly inventive ways,” said James Yeates, RSPCA chief veterinary officer.
While the increased prison term is excellent progress, it is still much lower than some states in the U.S., which hand down sentences of 10 or even 30 years for the most egregious abuse.

You are right this people who do this needs to be punished and sent to jail they have no morals
Not a moment too soon. Now they need to implement animal abuse registers countrywide so that abusers NEVER own an animal ever again, not even a fish or insects! They should also disallow pets to be sold privately in classified ads and at flea markets etc. The sale of animals should be very tightly restricted and controlled and the public should be made to sterilize all male and female mammal pets. This will reduce unwanted pet numbers and eradicate backyard breeding. Why this is not already happening only the laxadaisical authorities will know or have they not thought of these rocket science solutions yet? Don’t know why we pay taxes for such slap dash low grade service!
Thank you, England and Scotland, for taking animal abuse so seriously and increasing the penalties for abusers! Thanks for showing the rest of the world the right way to deal with these people!
Seems pointless to me. Judges are generally pro-hunting or at least have friends/family who hunt (illegally). These ridiculous old fossils have no respect for animals or even people, unless they are public school educated white males. They will NEVER use this power to punish vicious scum who torture animals.
Its about time we punish animal abusers more harshly. They deserve it..
I hope and think animal abusers should get the very least one year. For most they should get 10 years with no release until they do the 10 years. No early release.
Please put this in effect as soon as possible!
Thank you,
Sherri Coley
I believe if you can be cruel to animals it is likely you could be cruel to children. Six months in prison is not nearly enough for these vile people. They should have a much longer sentence and never be allowed to own an animal again.
We have to stand up for these poor animals TY
Crying out for
Justice for the animals.
I really don’t think these ratbag’s should be put in to jail. Thay are really sick mental people. I reackin thay all need to be put into a mental hospital. And have the key thowen away. The ratbags that can do this to an inset animal is very very sick
Putting these very sick people away in jail is not fizizng the problem of them been hurtfull to animals. All the courts need to wake up to there self & have the very sick people into the white cots & put them into a mental hospital & throw away the key. When thay get out of jail thay only do it again & again.
That’s the way it should be!
Although I love England’s move to hand down a Maximum sentence, I must say that I’m from Canada, and never heard of a 5 and 10 year sentence, nor the United States. Please do extra research, because I and many others would love to see Animal Abusers, Killers, Torturers given those sentences of which you mention. Quite frankly, an Annihilation of some sort, would be even better given to those Ingrates.
I agree with you, have never heard of 10-30 yr sentence in the USA. Would be great if these longer sentences were actually imposed, no parole allowed either.
all i can say is what took you so long to realize that his is what was needed for a long time.But thank god now many some of these animals will get the justice they so deserve. Thank you!!!!
Excellent. I have often thought that if you filled the prisons with animal abusers you would save many humans from being their next victims.
BRAVO TO “SCOTLAND and ENGLAND” !!! WHEN WILL THE U.S. BEGIN TO EVEN ENFORCE THE LAWS WE HAVE ??
WE “GOOD CITIZENS” NEED TO PRESSURE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS – VIA OUR POWER OF THE BALLOT – TO PASS LAWS THAT SEVERELY PUNISH ANIMAL ABUSERS WITH “HARD” PRISON TIME and THEN ENFORCE THOSE LAWS !!!
Well i tell you that I hope with increase in prison time available to the court i hope the courts use it. I am Canadian and I know for a fact that even with longer prison sentences available to our courts and judges, too many violent criminals are still getting slaps on the wrist for abhorrent crimes against beautiful, defenseless animals by prosecutors and or judges who basically show they have more sympathy for violent criminals than abused and killed animals.
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve just read the posts below and i can’t believe that not one post mentions the fact that less than 5 morons received the maximum sentence!No good increasing the sentence if STUPID judges don’t impose them??? DON’T be rejoicing just yet!!!
And let’s not forget the Crooked Defence Lawyers, that look for every nook and cranny to get the Bastard off the hook, with parole, or some other lame sentence!
Thank you to all those who have helped to get these laws in place.
God bless each of you who protect and speak out for the innocents
Karma plus a 1 way express ticket to burn in Hell all worthless scumbag asshole piece of shit trash responsible for allowing and participating in the heinous horrific barbaric unjustified intentional cruelty plus murder of innocent life!!!!
FINALLY!!! THANK YOU AND I PRAY IT HAPPENS HERE IN THE USA TOO!!! WE ALL NEED TO SIGN EVERY PETITION TO DEMAND THESE HENIOUS CRIMES AS CLASS 1 OR A FELONIES…..LIKE CHILD RAPE, KILLINGS…..ETC. IT’S GOT TO STOP!!!!! NOW!!!!!
EXCELLENT NEWS — GREAT DECISION by Mr. Michael Gove — we’re very proud of such rationality & compassion — CRIMES AGAINST ANIMALS MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY – the depraved indifference to the suffering inflicted on innocent & vulnerable animals is telling of cruel, unconscionable, merciless, sadistic, cowardly humans –REMEMBER, animals are always at our mercy AND we must NOT betray them — let’s ensure these idiot-humans NEVER be in possession of animals again — PUNISHMENT & PENALTIES MUST BE SEVERE — WHY would a rational & compassionate society allow these imbeciles to get away with their torture & indifference.
It’s been a long time coming and it’s about time!! Now each animal abuser should be registered as an animal abuser just like a sex offender is registered as a sex offender!! I hope that they sign that into law!!
Yay. Finally a meadure of justice for the poor abused animals. I wish we had tough laws like that here in Australia. The sentence for assaulting/abusing animals should be the same as it is for humans. Life is life.
The stinking sick freaks deserve even worse. Hope they rot from the inside out and live an agonizing long life!!!
Thank God for that. It is time that we started sentencing these horrible people to prison time that they deserve. I wish it was that way all over the US and Canada too. I wish it was everywhere.
It’s about time ! Now if we can get the same laws in the U.S.A. Abuse is abuse, to a human or to a animal. The prison sentence should be the same. Way to go U.K. !
YES!!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Well maybe we should open a prison or two just for animal abusers/cruelty, because the other prisons are heaving!! Simples, or not??
Yeah it is about time they changed the law like Canada , Australia ,the things what evil scum to do cats. dogs any animal shouldn’t have suffer an get away with fines or suspended sentence ,so please sign this petition an get the evil bastards sent to prison
This should have been done years ago all the animals that have suffered at the hands of people or ruthless breeders that let the puppies go to just anyone without checking the prospective buyers goin to their homes they just hand them over get the cash and do same again then people can’t look after them for 1 reason or another they are starved beaten or just neglected I hope this decision makes people and so called breeders think twice all I can say is victory for animals .
they should have to wear a sign on their back stating that they abused animals.
Agreed
It’s about time.