Animal Welfare Law in China: Are we there yet?

For days, Shanghaiist has been thinking of new and creative ways to curse the high-heeled kitten killer, even though she made an insincere apology, our anger has not ceased. Because no laws against animal cruelty exist in China, the bitch got off scott free.

So what happens next? What should we do if some idiot does this again? (Oh wait. It already has happened again. There is another series of captured images on the internet showing a kitten killed by a young woman, a different one -- a copycat kitten killer. We won't provide the link because it was even more gruesome than the first series, which, if you ever see a link to, DON'T FOLLOW IT. The photos will haunt you.)

Now this Xinhua story (in Chinese) may shed some light on our concerns. According to the Hainan Animal Protection Association (forum in Chinese), Hainan Province is going to announce the first animal welfare law in China at the end of the year. China has a wildlife protection law, but obviously with more Chinese enjoying the company of animals as pets, and some even treating them as family members, the exposure of animal abuse cases is motivating some lawmakers to enact a bill on animal abuse in China.

The first animal welfare law -- which may only be good in Hainan (but it is a step in the right direction) -- is said to set rules for the treatment and welfare of livestock, animals used in experiments, "companion" animals, working animals, entertainment animals and wildlife. The animal welfare law is suppose to raise citizens’ awareness on protecting basically all kinds of animals.

We don't want to see any more appalling animal abuse pictures -- but let's just hope the push for an animal welfare law won't be suspended yet again.

Photo from Chinese Companion Animal Protection Network.