Pets killed on roads will be identified

Transport Minister John Hayes has announced that pets killed on roads will have to be collected, identified and their owners notified by the Highways Agency.

This follows a parliamentary debate sparked by more than 122,000 people signing an e-petition calling for Harvey’s Law.

Jude Devine from Sheffield was told that her poodle Harvey had died four months after his body was found on the M62 – and this inspired the campaign.

According to a BBC report, Mr Hayes (pictured) said it was "absolutely essential" that every possible measure was taken to identify domestic animals killed in road accidents and their owners contacted.

He told MPs: "I have therefore asked the Highways Agency to ensure that indeed they do collect and identify every animal that is killed and contact the owners by whatever practicable means.

"I have told the Highways Agency that is what I expect. It will be a requirement and that is what will happen. This government does take this extremely seriously."

Mandatory scanning of canine traffic victims for electronic tags and other identifiers was set to be phased out as part of Treasury austerity measures.