At a parliamentary reception on Monday 20th February, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home launched their new campaign to raise the maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences. The campaign aims to highlight how sentences available to the Courts in England and Wales compare with other countries and whether they fit with sentences for other offences.

Sir David Amess attended the event to show his support for the new campaign. As an animal lover and avid animal welfare supporter the Southend West MP backed calls to implement tougher sentencing for offenders. At the reception he heard how like many charities, Battersea takes in animals every month who have been unacceptably and cruelly abused by people.