New laws set jail term of up to 1 year for animal cruelty

[TAIWANT2]

June 16, 2007
TAIPEI, CNA

The Legislative Yuan Thursday passed amendments to the Animal Protection Law that would impose a jail term of up to one year for people convicted of animal abuse leading to death.

The amendments stipulate that perpetrators of various offensive acts against animals that result in severe injuries or the death of animals could be punished by up to a year in prison. These include pet owners who allow their pets to be harassed, abused, or harmed; pet owners who desert their pets; and any person convicted of harassing, abusing, harming or abandoning animals.

Other offenders subject to the jail sentence also include pet owners who fail to provide necessary health care for injured or ill animals, anyone caught slaughtering animals in public places without permission from relevant authorities, or anyone discovered slaughtering animals without following legal procedures.

Under the current law, animal abuse is only punishable by fines range from NT$10,000 to NT$50,000.

The amendments also prescribe that people who commit aforesaid acts twice in five years be subject to a prison sentence of up to one year.

Under the new law, offenders could be sentenced to a jail term up to one year plus a fine up to NT$10,000 if they commit specified offenses twice in five years.

These include violation of regulations regarding the transportation of animals; performing medical treatment or surgery for animals without taking into consideration their health condition; and slaughtering animals without the supervision of a vet.

While in view of the fact that as many as 70 percent of hogs in Taiwan are inhumanely slaughtered, the Legislative Yuan also approved a resolution requesting that the central government authority enact procedures to ensure more humane animal- slaughtering procedures.