18/12/2025
🎉 Scottish Parliament has passed the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill at Stage 3, making it a standalone offence and formally recognising the serious emotional harm caused to families.
This new law means:
❗ Dogs are recognised as sentient beings
❗ Tougher penalties for dog theft
❗ Recognition of emotional harm
❗Stronger penalties for stealing assistance (helper) dogs, recognising the harm caused to people who rely on them
❗Better data to help prevent dog theft
This long-awaited change will strengthen protections for dogs and help deliver justice for victims across Scotland 🐾
This is a significant milestone, but we won't stop there.
Our 2026 Manifesto sets out the next steps needed to protect all animals in Scotland.
Keep the momentum going by supporting our manifesto: https://f.mtr.cool/vhwlaslfns
Together, we can make sure today’s progress is just the beginning.
