The death of a much-loved cat who captured hearts of Edinburgh residents has prompted calls for a law change.
Hugo, an Arabia Mau, was a familiar face in the west end. On April 25 he died after being struck by a car, reports the Daily Record.
The driver didn't report the incident, instead leaving Hugo (10), to die in a garden. While he had an owner, the feline was looked after by many residents in the community.
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One neighbour recognised him and rushed him to the vets. His owner Jane Rutherford sadly had to put him to sleep. Drivers are not required to notify the police, the SSPCA or a vet when they hit a cat but they are legally required to do so for other animals, including dogs.
But Hugo's death has prompted locals to campaign for "Hugo's Law" - to make it illegal for a driver to hit a cat and fail to stop or report the incident. The Public Petitions Committee debated making striking a cat a reportable incident in Westminster in January, gaining cross-party support.
Potential legislation is likely to be linked to new laws ensuring all cats are microchipped, which come into force in June 2024. It is hoped Scotland will also adopt this legislation.
Owner Jane, who adopted Hugo in Doha, Qatar, told the BBC : "A cat is no less precious than a dog. We don't know how long he was there - ten minutes or an hour - in pain. I would love to see that change so other pets are not discarded."
She added: "We were lucky because everyone knows him. I dashed to the vet and he got slightly better overnight, but the prognosis wasn't great.
"I took him home and eventually had to make the decision to let him go. He would not have had the life he loved and would have been miserable."
After sharing the news of Hugo's death on Facebook, Jane was inundated with photos and stories of beloved Hugo who was said to have "played such a huge part in the community".
A spokeswoman for Cats Matter said: "It simply can't be right that in 2023 people can hit cats when driving and drive off, leaving them alone, in pain and fighting for their lives.
"Accidents will sadly always happen, but we shouldn't accept that it is legally okay to then leave the scene. England are bringing in compulsory microchipping next year, and we have been urging the Scottish government to do the same.
"Then mandatory reporting should be looked at as there is then no excuse that cats can't be identified once reported."
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