The passage of the Animal Welfare Bill for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals should be welcomed. In spite of some criticism over the law's lack of specific detail, its passage marks the success of the efforts of animal rights groups and people who have fought for more than 10 years to pass legislation against cruelty towards animals.
The bill reflects the increasing awareness of Thais about animal cruelty. For years, Thailand has been subject to criticism over the law's deficiencies in protecting animals. Unfortunately, our four-legged companions have not always received proper care and treatment.
The Northeast is home to Thailand’s dog meat and dog skin trade, which according to the Thai Veterinary Medical Association, has seen up to 500,000 dogs slaughtered every year and processed here or in Laos, then exported to Vietnam and China for human consumption. According to the Soi Dog Foundation, the industry is run by organised crime gangs and is worth up to US$25 million (818 million baht) per year.
The passage of the bill sends a strong message that these cruel acts will not be tolerated any further.
That is why the bill must be taken seriously. Once it has been codified into legislation, there will be no excuse for people who commit cruel and inhumane acts against animals. For the authorities, there is no other option except to take action against such people.
In the past, authorities applied other pieces of available laws to protect animals such as the criminal code.
On Nov 12, the National Legislative Assembly passed the third reading of the Animal Welfare Bill with a majority vote of 188-1. The legislation was drafted by the Livestock Development Department with support from many animal rights groups. Although some criticised the act for lacking certain details, it has provided broad and sufficient guidelines to prevent torture and cruelty against animals.
The bill also specifies the authority and functions of a sub-committee composed of qualified scholars as well as representatives from NGOs, non-profit organisations and other civil groups to deliberate and improve the Animal Welfare Bill. In addition, the bill stipulates the duties of people responsible for animals to ensure suitable welfare.
The legislation covers domesticated pets, animals raised for food, working animals, animals kept for entertainment purposes, wild animals in captivity and animals kept for any other purpose.
Directives prohibit cruel treatment of animals and stipulate that owners/carers provide appropriate living conditions and a certain level of welfare. The law allows police to enter homes and businesses to act on reports of animal cruelty. It also allows for a greater punishment of offenders as the maximum sentence for perpetrators is two years in jail and/or a 40,000-baht fine.
The bill has spelled out certain illegal acts. For instance, it prohibits people from abandoning their pets or eating pet animals. People must not use animals for sexual activities. Some people harm animals without realising. For instance, some Thais make merit by freeing birds without appreciating that these wild birds were tortured while they were left in their cages under the hot sun.
Many Thais may also abandon pet dogs and cats in temples without realising that the temples do not have adequate facilities to care for the animals.
The final bill may not satisfy all. But, like any piece of legislation, a bill's passage is an effort to gain a consensus from stakeholders. The law has also taken into consideration the local context. For instance, some Thais consider cock-fighting a sport. That is why it took years of effort for Thailand to write this legislation.
The omission of specific details, such as which animals could be defined as pets, may be a blessing in disguise. The bill can be viewed as providing wide protection for different kinds of animals, instead of being limited by specific details.
The bill, or the enforcement officers, do not guarantee the end of cruelty towards animals — it depends on the conscience and awareness of people.
From now on, people must be educated about the consequences of their actions, especially those that can be deemed as animal cruelty. Such education should allow people to develop their own awareness to help them refrain from potentially harming animals.
The bill simply provides guidelines for moving forward. Words in the bill will mean nothing unless people translate them into conscious action.
Every person is responsible for protecting their best friend.