Depute SNP council group leader Jim MacLeod hailed our drive to close a baffling legal loophole, which saves the Pets’ Corner slaughter suspect from being prosecuted, as ‘superb and well-led’.

Cllr MacLeod, pictured, is proud to be one of the people who has signed our law change petition.

He said: “I sincerely hope that the necessary amendments are made to the law in order that the person who committed this hideous crime is justly punished for it.” Meanwhile, the number of people who have registered their names on our petition has reached a remarkable 4,240, with the figure swelling further as the Telegraph went to press earlier today.

We revealed last month how an inexplicable time bar means that the man believed to have brutally bludgeoned defenceless creatures with a golf club at the Gourock petting zoo in 2011, while his dog crushed others to death between its jaws, will never be hauled into court as the law stands.

DNA evidence linking the suspect directly to the barbaric offence was discovered by police in 2013.

But Crown Office prosecutors are powerless because the breakthrough came more than six months after the commission of the appalling crime.

Cllr MacLeod said: “The simple fact is that evidence has been gathered and the person should be prosecuted.

“I think that the response to the Telegraph’s campaign has been absolutely fantastic and I am urging many more people through my Facebook page to share it online and sign up.” Mr MacLeod branded the current state of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act with regard to the time bar as a ‘nonsense’, adding: “There has to be a change in the law and this loophole closed.” Our campaign has won cross-party political support, with Inverclyde Council leader Stephen McCabe declaring his ‘astonishment’ at the present legislation.

MSPs Stuart McMillan and Duncan McNeil wrote directly to Justice Secretary Michael Matheson more than a month ago in support of our call for the law to be changed.

However, despite the Scottish Government hinting at a possible amendment by saying that the ‘effectiveness of legislation is kept under review’, Mr Matheson is yet to formally respond to their letters.

You can still support Justice for Pets by signing the petition at the Telegraph office, newsagents shops and council offices across Inverclyde — or do it online by logging on to http://chn.ge/1QBjUhu