http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39573426
Taiwan's parliament has approved a bill banning the slaughter of cats and dogs for human consumption. The bill also prohibits those using a car or motorbike from pulling their pets alongside them on a lead as they travel. Anyone caught breaching the order faces a large fine or up to two years in prison - and having their names and photographs made public.
The measures were introduced to improve the country's animal protection laws. The move on Tuesday is a landmark amendment to Taiwan's Animal Protection Act, and is the first of its kind in Asia.
Taiwan had already banned the sale of meat and fur from cats and dogs in 2001.
(Score: 2) by driverless on Friday April 14 2017, @09:45AM (1 child)
It does seem pretty odd. I've eaten horse in cultures where it's quite acceptable, and damn was it good. Never understood the extreme aversion to it in the UK and US, it's no different from eating cattle or sheep that have been raised for the purpose. I've had dog once or twice, but prepared in such a manner that it was hard to tell whether it was special or not (the horse was horse steak, where you could tell it was really good meat). So I wonder if this move is to curry favour with countries like the US, on which Taiwan is heavily dependent for defence against China?
Also, how liable are these laws to be followed? I know that some Asian countries are quite happy to pass whatever law the farangs want, on the understanding that they're never enforced unless it's done as part of a big show when said farangs are present, and in any case they'll be quietly forgotten after a year or two.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 14 2017, @02:09PM
The problem is when there's horse meat in beef. If they can cheat by putting in the wrong meat they can cheat in other unsafe ways too.
So similarly the problem with dog meat and cat meat is it's normally very poorly regulated. And you have unscrupulous people stealing pet dogs.
That said, not like the "conventional" meat industry is that well regulated in my country ;).