Cat campaigners in final push to protect pets in car crashes

Tuesday 05 March 2019

Cat lovers have rallied together in a final push to make ‘hit and runs’ involving the furry pets illegal.

A petition stating that islanders should be obliged, by law, to report hitting felines with a vehicle is less than a day away from closing, having launched six months ago.

It was set up by cat lover and campaigner Sandra Jasmins, with the backing of island group ‘Equal Rights 4 Cats’ and soon became the first ever petition to hit 1,000 signatures, triggering a government response.

Video: Campaigners want to change the law to make cat 'hit and runs' reportable. (Equal Rights 4 Cats)

But the attempt to make cats and dogs equal under the eyes of the law did not gain political favour, with Infrastructure Minister Deputy Kevin Lewis declaring that the family pets were “already well provided for in the Jersey Highway Code and Animal Welfare Law.”

He added that changing the law could be seen as “heavy-handed” and would place an “extra burden” on the Police.

In the face of this resistance, the group are now making one last push for paw-litical action. 

If their petition can reach 5,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in the States Chamber. 

At the time of writing, the petition is over 80% of the way towards its target, with nearly 4,100 signatures.

The final deadline for signatures is tonight at midnight.