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Parliamentary Success for Harvey’s Law

By on Wednesday, March 4, 2015

harvey_and_judeA campaign that began after a pet went missing in Rainhill has resulted in a success in Parliament.

‘Harvey’s Army’ petitioned the government to make it law for the Highways Agency to scan all dead pets on its roads and log the deaths with police and dog wardens.

The campaign began after a poodle named Harvey disappeared from Rainhill, in November 2013, where owners Jude Devine (pictured) and Shaun Robertson were visiting friends.

Hundreds of people from the local community searched high and low for the dog, until February 2014, when the couple discovered he had been run over and killed within minutes of his disappearance.

Since then, campaigners have fought for a change in the law, and after an official petition reached 100,000 signatures, the issue went before Parliament.

At Monday 2 March’s debate in the House of Commons, Transport Minister John Hayes said he had asked the Highways Agency “to ensure that indeed they do collect and identify every animal that is killed and contact the owners by whatever practicable means.

“It will be a requirement and that is what will happen. This government does take this extremely seriously.”

Although the minister’s policy promise is not backed by legislation, Harvey’s Army were jubilant at the outcome, and ready to continue pressing for a permanent law and to see the compulsory scanning requirement rolled out to other agencies.

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