Question reference: S6W-18027
- Date lodged: 17 May 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce legislation to adopt Hugo’s Law to require drivers to stop and report an incident to the police, and seek help from a vet, if they hit a cat with their vehicle, similar to the requirements for incidents involving dogs, horses, sheep, pigs, cows and goats.
Answer
The Scottish Government currently has no plans to alter the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it an offence not to stop and report an accident involving a cat.
Under Section 170 of the Act, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals, including horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, due to the their status as working animals rather than domestic pets. The Highway code however does advise drivers to report any accidents involving animals to the Police and that if possible they should make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals and advise them of the accident accordingly.
The Scottish Government's Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats recommends that all cat owners should consider microchipping their pets as the best way of being reunited with their rightful owners should they be separated.