TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) legislator Jean Kuo (郭昱晴) urged the government Thursday (Dec. 11) to expedite amendments to the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法) to impose stricter penalties. Kuo's call follows a shocking incident where a Taipei woman was found guilty of abusing cats and dogs to death, discarding a cat's corpse in a trash bag. The case sparked public outrage over inadequate animal welfare protections.
Public outcry intensified after the revelation of improper breeding and devocalizing practices at a kennel in Miaoli County, central Taiwan. Kuo criticized the local animal protection office for its slow response, noting that the abuse of nearly 300 animals at the kennel violated animal welfare. She highlighted that the cat abuse case had been reported by the public in June, indicating missed opportunities for local authorities to save these animals.
Kuo proposed increasing the penalty for causing severe injury or death to animals to three years and raising the fine to NT$3 million (around US$96,154). Hsu Shu-hua (許淑華), a Taipei City councilor, emphasized the need for legislative amendments, particularly in cases involving multiple animal deaths. Chen Kuang-hsuan (陳光軒), a Miaoli County councilor, stressed the necessity of revising Article 25 of the Animal Protection Act to strengthen enforcement.
Chen Chung-hsing (陳中興), deputy director of the Agriculture Ministry's Department of Animal Welfare (農業部動保司), announced that the ministry submitted a draft amendment to the Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, to increase penalties for animal abuse leading to death. The proposal aims to grant animal protection officers limited judicial powers and collaborate with local governments to enhance personnel and shelter facilities. ◼ (At time of reporting, US$1 equals approximately NT$31.2)