THE MP for West Dorset is hopeful a change in the law which will bring harsher punishments for those convicted of animal cruelty offences will be passed within the month.

It comes after the Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill passed its Second Reading in the House of Lords.

The move, which West Dorset MP Chris Loder introduced as a Private Members’ Bill in 2020, makes provision for the maximum penalty for certain offences under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 to be increased from six months to up to five years.

The bill completed its passage through the House of Commons in March.

Mr Loder was inspired to bring forward the bill by his own dog - Poppy. He rescued the springer spaniel after finding her abandoned at the roadside in west Dorset several years ago, having clearly been mistreated.

Mr Loder said: “We are just a couple of steps away before Her Majesty The Queen gives her Royal Assent for my Bill to become law and to get justice for animals through tougher sentencing for animal cruelty.”

The amendment was first put to Parliament in July 2016 by Redcar MP, Anna Turley, following an incident that saw two young men filming themselves throwing a bulldog down a flight of stairs.

A public consultation in 2017 showed that more than 70% of people supported the proposals for tougher prison sentences.

Mr Loder who is a fourth-generation farmer’s son and an advocate of high animal welfare, is determined to change the law within weeks. The bill currently faces a race-against-time to be signed into law before the Queen’s Speech, which is expected on May 11.

The bill has wide support from cross-party MPs, Defra, the RSPCA, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and other leading animal welfare organisations.