(CN) Fw: Beijing considers legislation for animal welfare

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http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-05/09/content_1459364.htm

www.chinaview.cn 2004-05-09 23:05:15

 

BEIJING, May 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Beijing is considering drafting laws to

protect " animal welfare " , the first legislation of its kind on animals,

reported Sunday's Beijing Youth Daily.

 

The laws have included as a chapter in a regulation on animal hygiene

drafted by the Beijing municipal government, which is now soliciting

opinions from the Beijing citizens.

 

In the chapter " animal welfare " , the draft regulation lists a series of

provisions to protect the welfare that should be enjoyed by animals, ranging

from their life and transportation to their medical care and slaughter.

 

The regulation stipulates that no one should harass, maltreat or hurt

others' animals and that while carrying animals from one place to another,

the vehicles used must be kept clean and animals must be protected from

suffering shock, torture or hurt.

 

If animals have to be slaughtered out of necessity, like for the sake of

controlling the spread of some animal epidemic, they must be killed in a

humane way that can bring them the least pain, according to the regulation.

 

In addition, they must not be killed before other animals and must be

isolated while being killed.

 

The regulation also says that teaching experiments that could cause

injury or death to animals can only be done in senior high school education

or the level above.

 

Meanwhile, it is not allowed to arrange a fight between animals or

between man and animals for gambling, entertainment, or some other

commercial purposes.

 

According to the draft regulation, those who maltreat, hurt or abandon

animals and those who do not slay animals in a humane way or do not give

necessary treatment to injured or sick animals willbe imposed a fine up to

10,000 yuan (about 1,209 US dollars). Enditem