ANIMAL lovers must now be told if their pets are killed on the roads, thanks to campaigners.

Halton MP Derek Twigg has won a victory in Parliament after 122,000 signatures were collected on an e-petition and he tabled a motion calling for the law to be changed.

In 2010, the Highways Agency withdrew the routine scanning of electronically tagged domestic pets killed on the roads, preventing owners from being informed.

Transport minister John Hayes has now changed this policy to enforce the Highways Agency to notify owners if ‘chipped’ dogs and cats are killed on the roads.

Mr Twigg said: “It is a good example of how democracy can work well.

“This has been a team effort down to campaigners.

“The death of a pet is traumatic and deeply upsetting for an owner, but the situation is made much worse by not knowing whether their pet is alive or dead.”

Pauline Krause, from Widnes and dozens of Halton campaigners contacted Mr Twigg after a poodle called Harvey died on the M62 in November 2013.

His owners searched for him for 13 weeks, spending thousands of pounds in flyers and newspaper articles.

They only found out about his death by chance after a contractor who had collected Harvey’s body on the M62 spotted their appeal on Facebook.

Speaking at a debate on Harvey’s Law on March 2, transport minister Mr Hayes said: “People’s distress after the loss of a pet has been made absolutely clear.

“I have asked the Highways Agency to ensure that it collects and identifies every animal that is killed and to contact the owners by whatever practicable means.

“The process will begin straight away.”

Mrs Krause, aged 54, of Upton Rocks, who has two dogs, said: “This is a phenomenal outcome. We are absolutely overwhelmed.

“The trauma of not knowing if your dog has been stolen, used for bait, sent to a puppy farm, incinerated or killed was terrible.

“Now owners of dogs and cats will know what has happened and can move on with their life.

“The law covers all major roads under the Highways Agency’s jurisdiction.

“The minister is also asking councils to follow suit on all other roads across the UK.”