People who force animals to perform dangerous acts may also face punishment if the law is passed.
Chang Jiwen
More and more Chinese people take part in volunteer work to promote awareness for animal welfare.
By Han Manman
News reports of the mass slaughtering of dogs or abuse of cats would be significantly reduced if the country’s first animal welfare bill is passed, which would make animal mltreatment a punishable offense.
While most international NGOs applaud China’s latest step in promoting animal welfare – a relatively new topic in the country dissenting voices at home are growing louder, saying the law would not only be impractical but premature.
Experts draft bill with an international face
Many Chinese people consider animals only as a “resource”; they are unaware of the pain animals can feel and are thus capablof untold cruelty.
Extreme cases reported by the domestic media include foxes that are skinned alive for their fur; bears farmed for their bile by maintaining open wounds in their bodies; and dogs clubbed or stoned to death in the name of “rabies prevention and population control.”In response, the government publicized last week a draft of the Animal Protection Law, which outlines the minimum standards, in various situations, for treating animals. The draft has been posted online for comments from the public.
The bill, drafted by a team of animal law experts and supported by several international animal welfare groups, includes provisions on how to care for pets and how farm animals should be raised, transported and slaughtered. It also details protective measures for captive wildlife and laboratory animals.
It likewise bans indiscriminate animal abuse, including dog-culling; violators face up to three years in jail.
