A PETITION to change laws around pet theft is gathering growing support after the recent disappearance and killing of a dog from Bonhill.

The Murdoch family’s Jack Russell, Buddy, was found dead in a rubble sack washed on the beach at Rhu, near Helensburgh, last month after going missing.

After being told that, unless they come forward, the culprit would not face punishment under animal cruelty laws, with police unwilling to launch a large investigation to find the perpetrator, the Murdochs were left to mourn their beloved dog.

Now a petition brought to the UK Parliament, and which was debated at Westminster, has gained traction after a charity pushing for a change in the laws pertaining to the theft of pets has begun to use Buddy as the poster dog of its campaign.

The Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance promoted its petition on social media along with a picture of the much-loved pet.

Currently, in England and Wales, the theft of a pet is treated no differently, as a criminal matter, than the theft of an inanimate object, such as a computer.

The petition seeks to have pet theft reclassified as a specific crime in its own right.

As in Scotland, pet theft is punishable like any other theft down south, but this campaign looks to encourage judges to look more at emotional damage to the pet’s owners, rather than simply monetary value.

Davie Murdoch, one of Buddy’s owners, said: “A change to the law wouldn’t bring us any justice or closure now, as the person who did this to Buddy may never be found, but I do feel that the law should reflect how important pets are to people.

“The way the law is now prevents any proper investigation into the theft, unless someone comes forward, or is found, to then be prosecuted under animal cruelty laws.”

“Without the person, there can be no punishment. A change would give the police more substance to put towards an investigation.”

Despite the petition attracting more than 100,000 signatures, triggering the parliamentary debate, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says that pet theft is already treated with enough importance by the authorities.

sufficient concern is already given to the crime of pet theft.

A spokesperson said: “We understand the distress caused by the theft of a much loved family pet and laws are in place to deal firmly with offenders who commit such crimes.”

Mike Flynn, chief superintendent of animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA, responded: “The debate at Westminster last week indicated that the UK Government do not intend to change the law around pet theft.“At present, when an animal is stolen it is extremely rare to be able to find a culprit, and when a culprit is found the animals are considered as ‘property’, not sentient beings. “This fails to take into consideration both the trauma suffered by the owners, and the stress suffered by the animal at the centre of this ordeal. “We would support any changes in legislation that included recognition of the impact these crimes have on an animal’s welfare.”

The theft of a pet is also not set down as a specific crime in Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: While the theft of pets is similarly unspecified as a separate crime in Scotland, a Scottish Government spokesperson emphasised that Holyrood takes the issue very seriously. They said: “Theft, including the theft of animals, is already a common law offence in Scotland for which the maximum penalty goes all the way up to a life sentence, when tried in the High Court.”

“We are leading the UK in driving up standards of animal welfare with stricter penalties for animal cruelty and extra licensing conditions for dog breeders.”