来源：《卫报》
原文刊登日期：2021年4月15日
文本适合英语二考生
Millions of cat owners could be expected to get their cats microchipped or face fines under new government plans as the number of felines being stolen has risen sharply during the pandemic.
根据新的政府计划，数百万宠物猫主人或将为他们的猫植入芯片，否则将面临罚款，政府这样做的原因是疫情期间盗猫案件数量急剧上升。
Data from the police shows the number of cats being taken has risen almost threefold in five years, with a notable 12.3% in the last year. Owners are now being asked to microchip their cats in the same way as dogs already are.
来自警方的数据显示，被拐走的猫的数量在五年内增长了近三倍，去年增幅更是高达12.3%。宠物狗都已植入芯片，现在，宠物主人也被要求给猫植入芯片。
The Telegraph reported that a microchipping measure, which means animals can be tracked and identified if stolen and resold, is being introduced as part of a package of changes by a ministerial taskforce to combat the growing black market in stolen pets. Those who do not get their cats registered will face a fine of up to £500.
据《每日电讯报》报道，作为打击日益猖獗的宠物盗卖黑市的一揽子改革措施的一部分，英国内阁一个特别工作组正在引入一种微型芯片措施，这意味着如果宠物被盗或转售，可以追踪和识别它们。那些没有给自己的猫登记的人将面临最高500英镑的罚款。
The taskforce was set up by Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, with Priti Patel, the home secretary, and George Eustice, the environment secretary.
该工作组由司法部长罗伯特·巴克兰、内政部长普里蒂·帕特尔和环境部长乔治·尤斯蒂斯共同组建。
A government spokesperson said: “Last month the home secretary and the environment secretary met to discuss a cross-government approach to combatting this issue and we will announce next steps in due course. This builds upon the huge amounts of work already undertaken by junior ministers and officials to address this cruel and criminal practice.”
一位政府发言人说:“上个月，内政部长和环境部长会面讨论了一个跨政府部门的方法来对抗这个问题，我们将在适当的时候宣布下一步的步骤。”这是建立在助理政务次长和行政人员已经开展的大量工作的基础上，以解决这种残忍的犯罪行为。”
Stefan Blakiston Moore, an advocacy and government relations officer for Cats Protection, said: “It is a Conservative manifesto commitment for cats to be legally microchipped so we hope they will come forward with this. Cats Protection has been campaigning for it for a number of years. We are waiting for a response to that but we are hopeful a positive change will come and compulsory microchipping is brought in.”
斯蒂芬·布莱克顿·摩尔是猫咪保护组织的一名宣传和政府关系官员，他说:“保守党在宣言中承诺要合法地给猫咪植入微芯片，所以我们希望他们能提出这个要求。猫咪保护组织已经为这个问题开展了多年的活动。我们正在等待对此的回应，但我们希望出现积极的变化，并引入强制植入微芯片。”
He said across the UK 2.6m cats are not microchipped. “It is usually a significant amount of cats and the risk is when they go missing or are stolen as has been reported … it is very difficult for them to be reunited with their owners.”
他说，全英国有260万只猫没有植入微芯片。“猫的数量通常是相当多的，风险是当它们像报道的那样失踪或被偷时，它们很难与主人团聚。”
Ministers are also considering a ban on cash purchases of pets to stop a black market of sellers who are trading without it being traceable through bank transactions, the Telegraph reported.
据英国《每日电讯报》报道，部长们还考虑禁止以现金购买宠物，以阻止黑市上的卖家交易，因为现金交易无法通过银行交易追踪。
The theft data comes as the cost of buying a pet rises, with the most expensive cat breeds reaching £2,000.
随着购买宠物的价格上升，最昂贵的猫品种达到2000英镑，盗窃案件数量也随之上升。