Lioness star wants the law changed after 'horrific' find dumped in bin
An Aston Villa and England star wants the law changed after their cat was hit by a motorist and dumped in a bin. Lucy Parker only discovered her pet Wilma's fate after the body was found, with no laws forcing drivers to report hitting cats.
The Road Traffic Act states that drivers must stop and report accidents involving dogs, horses, and cattle - but not cats. The defender, who was on standby for the Lionesses' historic Euros-winning squad, now wants to change that.
With many cat owners suffering the same heartache as Lucy, the footy star has now teamed up with the RSPCA to get the law amended. The Aston Villa player wants it to be mandatory that drivers report collisions with cats and for them to be scanned for microchips so that owners can be informed of their pet's fate.
The 26-year-old's cat went missing on May 17. Despite being found a day later, Lucy was not alerted until May 20, as reported by NeedToKnow.
Lucy said: 'The whole ordeal of losing Wilma was incredibly traumatic, and after many social media posts, we found she had been killed in a car collision and thrown in a bin. Despite the horrific circumstances, we were incredibly lucky to find Wilma, as it has become apparent to me that not everyone is granted that same closure.
'Since losing my baby girl, Wilma, I learned that, unlike dogs, there is currently no legal requirement in the UK for drivers to report if they hit a cat with their vehicle - which just doesn't seem fair. Cats are cherished family members in countless homes across England and beyond.
'Their welfare on the roads is not recognised fairly enough right now - and I want to use my voice to help level the playing field; whether that's urging the UK Government to act, ensuring more local authorities are scanning for cats, or helping motorists know what they should do if they're involved in a collision.'
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, added: "While sadly there's currently no legal requirement to help a cat after a road traffic accident, that doesn't mean people shouldn't do so. We'd urge any motorists who sadly have an accident and knock over a cat to safely stop the car, and if the owner isn't nearby, to knock on local doors to try and find them, or transport the cat to a local vet immediately.
'A vet can provide potentially lifesaving treatment if the cat is injured, and in any event can scan the cat for a microchip, so any owner can be notified straight away. Even in the most tragic circumstances, this can give owners closure that sadly so many with missing pets who've been involved in car accidents never get.
'The tragic story of Lucy's cat Wilma highlights just how important that closure can be for owners, and we're so grateful for her support in securing a fairer deal for cats and their owners.'
What does the law say about hitting a cat with your car?
While there isn't a specific law requiring drivers to report accidents that involve cats, the Highway Code advises reporting collisions involving animals to the police and, if possible, notifying the owner.
A dog (as well as a goat, horse, cattle, ass, mule, sheep and pig) are animals covered within the remit of the legislation where drivers are required to report incidents - cats aren't. Legally speaking, drivers do not have to declare incidents involving badgers, foxes, deer, rabbits, or other small animals.
This is because dogs are required to be kept on a lead near busy roads, so if they're found near a road it could mean the owner has broken the law. The same applies for animals such as horses and cattle - owners are required to keep these animals in a secure enclosure and failure to do so could lead to a hefty penalty.
Meanwhile, cats are allowed to roam freely across the UK, which means their owners have little control about where they go. This means drivers cannot face legal action if they don't report an accident involving a cat.
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