More Than 243,000 Back an Animal-Abuser Register — but the Petition Is Still Open

More than 243,000 people have backed a petition calling for a public register of people convicted of animal abuse and an automatic lifetime ban on animal ownership. Parliament has already debated the proposal, but the public record is not closed.

The petition remains open until 12 September 2026. Its signature count therefore continues to change. The Government published its response on 19 May and the House of Commons debated the petition on 29 June.

The Government says it has no plans to create the requested system, pointing to the Police National Computer, information-sharing powers and court-imposed disqualification orders. That position does not close the petition or turn the debate into legislation; it records the current policy disagreement.

What the petition asks for

The petition calls for a publicly searchable register of everyone convicted of animal abuse and an automatic lifetime ownership ban for anyone convicted of animal neglect or abuse.

Its creator argues that discretionary bans and the absence of a public register allow repeat access to animals. Readers can view the live UK Parliament petition to inspect the wording, current total, geographical breakdown and official progress for themselves.

The petition is still open

The petition is open until 12 September 2026. It has already crossed the thresholds for a Government response and consideration for debate, and that debate took place on 29 June.

Those events do not end the signing period. They also do not oblige the Government to implement the request. Any register or automatic-ban scheme would require a separate policy and legislative process.

What the Government says

The Government’s published response says it has no plans to introduce either the public register or an automatic lifetime ban.

It says animal-cruelty prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 are recorded on the Police National Computer and information can be shared with appropriate organisations—and, at police discretion, with members of the public in cases of concern.

The response also points to court-imposed disqualification orders, which can include a lifetime ban. Its position is that sentencing should remain a case-by-case judicial decision rather than becoming an automatic consequence in every case.

What the Commons debate changed

The debate gave MPs an opportunity to scrutinise the proposal and the Government’s response. It did not create a register, introduce an automatic ban or close the petition early.

That distinction matters. A petition can secure a response and a debate while its signing window remains open, and neither milestone is the same as a change in law.

What readers should take from this

The petition has attracted substantial public support and has been debated in Parliament. The Government’s current answer is no, but the petition remains open until 12 September and the public total is still moving.

Readers who want the current figure or the official wording should use the Parliament page rather than relying on a fixed number reproduced elsewhere.

Correction

Correction — 23 August 2026: An earlier version incorrectly described the petition as closed at 241,899 signatures. It remains open until 12 September 2026, and its signature total continues to change. The headline, introduction and status sections have been corrected.

Source and update record

• UK Parliament: live petition, Government response and Commons debate record — checked 23 August 2026.
• Updated 23 August 2026: The petition’s live status, closing date and moving signature total were corrected. The article’s original publication date remains unchanged.