Dog Desk Animal Action is supporting Tuks Law in its campaign for stronger safeguards to protect companion animals from unnecessary euthanasia. We are sharing the campaign’s letter to MPs and parliamentary petition so that people can take part without needing a Facebook account.
Tuk was a young rescue dog whose life ended despite, according to the Tuks Law campaign, having rescue backup arrangements and secondary rescue contact details recorded on his microchip database.
His death raises an important question: what safeguards should exist when someone presents an animal for euthanasia, particularly when another person or rescue organisation may have an interest in that animal’s welfare?
For rescue organisations, this is a particularly significant issue. Many remain committed to the animals they rehome, offering lifetime rescue backup and accepting responsibility if an adoption breaks down. Those arrangements are intended to provide a safety net throughout an animal’s life.
Tuks Law is campaigning for stronger legal recognition of these protections, including microchip verification before non emergency euthanasia and appropriate checks of registered keeper and rescue backup information.
The campaign also raises concerns about domestic abuse, where animals may be used as instruments of coercive control, and the absence of comprehensive national reporting of companion animal euthanasia.
At Dog Desk Animal Action, we believe that each individual life matters. Our work includes animal protection, evidence led advocacy and improving accountability for decisions affecting animals. These are the reasons we are helping Tuks Law bring this campaign to a wider audience.
Two ways you can help
1. Sign the parliamentary petition
The petition calls for the recording of euthanasia involving healthy or treatable companion animals, publication of annual data, stronger microchip checks and a nationwide system to protect stray cats.
The petition closes on 1 November 2026.
Sign the Tuks Law parliamentary petition
2. Write to your MP
Tuks Law has prepared a letter that supporters can send to their MP, asking for parliamentary attention to the Pets (Microchips) Bill, stronger protection for animals and greater scrutiny of Defra’s position on euthanasia reporting.
You can find your MP and their contact details here:
The campaign’s original letter is reproduced below. You can copy it into an email or document, add your MP’s name and your own contact details, and send it directly.
Tuks Law – Letter to Your MP
Dear____________MP
I am writing to request your support for the bill Pets (Microchips) Bill presented by Rebecca Harris MP for the provision regarding pets with microchips; and for connected purposes. This bill was 3rd on the order sheet on 24 January 2025 however despite being listed as likely to be heard it was not. I feel that had there not been a ministerial statement made during the Private Members readings there would have been time for the 2nd reading to have been heard. This occurrence was a great disappointment to myself and the Tuks Law team who were in the gallery watching events unfold. Since that day the bill has failed to be heard for a second reading. I would ask you to please explain why this bill is not being discussed.
Tuk was a young rescue dog who was euthanised whilst having full rescue back up, secondary rescue contact details registered on his microchip database and was presented by an individual who was not his registered keeper.
Many rescue organisations, responsible breeders and pet owners register their information on the microchip as a secondary contact to protect their animals in times of vulnerability and it is unacceptable that this is not being legally acknowledged.
This bill will protect the pets of Domestic Violence victims who live in fear of their pets being euthanised by their abuser. Pets are used as coercive tools and often a victim will stay in an abusive relationship rather than leave their much loved pet behind. Charities such as the Dogs Trust and Cats Protection run projects to help victims but that an abuser can take a pet into a veterinarian practice in the UK and have that pet euthanised as there is no legal obligation to scan that pet to ensure the person presenting is registered on the microchip is adding to the stress a Domestic Violence victim already feels.
In a recent podcast interview with Veterinary Ramblings Paula Boyden:
BVetMed,FRCVS
Chair, The Links Group
Vice Chair, Canine and Feline Sector Group
Commissioner, Scottish Animal Welfare Commission
Member, RSPCA Prosecutions Oversight Panel
Member, Defra Rabies Core Group
Former Veterinary Director of Dogs Trust - 2010 to 2025.
highlighted how pets are used as coercive tools and how “the perpetrator would take in the dog to a vet, told them it had bitten a child and had the pet put to sleep”.
It must never be that easy to end a much loved pets life with no questions asked, no transparency, no accountability and no recording of the death.
As my MP I am requesting you please support this bill and write to Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and urge her to make the important changes to the existing microchip legislation in support of Tuks Law.
I would further request that you contact Paula Boyden directly in relation to this parliamentary bill and its importance to protecting pets.
I believe that a legal requirement on the scanning of microchips prior to the euthanasia of a healthy/treatable animal is the only preventative measure to stop them being unnecessarily euthanised.
We must support a positive outcome to keep all our animals safe and ensure that the rescue back up contact details on microchips are honoured and acted upon and that keeper details are confirmed on the original database prior to any life ending procedure unless in an emergency situation.
The full bill can be read in the following link:
https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3824
I would also ask you to contact Rebecca Harris MP to discuss the Tuks Law campaign and Bill especially in relation to Domestic Violence victims and rescue organisations.
I would also like to draw your attention to the recent government response to the Tuks Law petition below:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/766482
In my opinion this response raises serious concerns about the evidence, or apparent lack of evidence, underpinning Defra’s response to the petition calling for the central recording of pet euthanasia data.
Defra states:
“The vast majority of pet euthanasia cases are for health and welfare reasons to relieve suffering. There is no indication of systemic issues that would necessitate new reporting obligations.”
The response concludes:
“We have not seen any evidence that unnecessary euthanasia is occurring on a scale that would justify further research or the introduction of an additional reporting requirement.”
I am concerned that these statements reach a conclusion about the scale of unnecessary pet euthanasia without providing the data, statistics or research necessary to support it.
I would be grateful of you could raise this with Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Petitions Committee directly.
In summary I am deeply concerned that we are failing to protect the most vulnerable in our society and I hope that by taking the correct course of action this can be reversed.
I look forward to your early reply.
Name and Address including postcode
Why this is important
The government responded to the petition on 9 October 2026, stating that it had not seen evidence of unnecessary euthanasia occurring on a scale that would justify further research or additional reporting requirements.
The government also pointed to existing professional veterinary guidance, including microchip scanning before euthanasia, consent procedures and consideration of alternatives.
However, the distinction between professional guidance and enforceable legal requirements is central to the Tuks Law campaign.
There is also an important question about the evidence available to assess how frequently healthy or treatable companion animals are euthanised unnecessarily. Without comprehensive reporting, establishing the scale of the problem remains difficult.
The government says it has undertaken further work with campaigners, veterinary professionals and animal welfare stakeholders and intends to respond later in 2026.
These are matters that deserve informed public discussion.
Please help Tuks Law reach more people
You do not need a Facebook account to participate.
Sign the petition. Write to your MP. Share this article with someone who cares about animal welfare.
Dog Desk Animal Action is sharing this campaign in support of Tuks Law and its work to strengthen the protection of companion animals.
Every animal’s life matters.
You can find out more about Tuk’s Law here
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