A PETITION to change laws around pet theft is gathering growing support after a much-loved family pet was found dead in a rubble sack on the beach in Rhu.

The Murdoch family’s Jack Russell, Buddy, was found last month after going missing from his owners’ home.

Now a charity pushing for a change in the law has begun to use Buddy as the poster dog of its campaign.

The Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance promoted its petition on social media along with a picture of the much-loved pet.

Under the current law in Scotland, England and Wales, the theft of a pet is treated no differently in criminal terms to the theft of an inanimate object.

The petition seeks to have pet theft reclassified as a specific crime in its own right.

Davie Murdoch, one of Buddy’s owners, said: “A change to the law wouldn’t bring us any justice or closure now, as the person who did this to Buddy may never be found, but I do feel that the law should reflect how important pets are to people.

“The way the law is now prevents any proper investigation into the theft, unless someone comes forward, or is found, to then be prosecuted under animal cruelty laws.”

“Without the person, there can be no punishment. A change would give the police more substance to put towards an investigation.”

Despite the petition attracting more than 100,000 signatures, triggering the parliamentary debate, the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs says that pet theft is already treated with enough importance by the authorities.

A spokesperson said: “We understand the distress caused by the theft of a much loved family pet and laws are in place to deal firmly with offenders who commit such crimes.”

Mike Flynn, chief superintendent of the Scottish SPCA, responded: “At present, when an animal is stolen it is extremely rare to be able to find a culprit, and when a culprit is found the animals are considered as ‘property’, not sentient beings. We would support any changes in legislation that included recognition of the impact these crimes have on an animal’s welfare.”

The theft of a pet is also not set down as a specific crime in Scotland.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “Theft, including the theft of animals, is already a common law offence in Scotland for which the maximum penalty goes all the way up to a life sentence, when tried in the High Court.

“We are leading the UK in driving up standards of animal welfare.”