The Supreme Master Ching Hai
Reported by the Formosa News Team (Originally in Chinese)
Animals are the best friends of humankind! As more and more people are realizing the warmth of animal companions, over the past decade, Formosa public animal shelters’ adoption rate has increased from 13.45% to 74.86%. People are also increasingly outraged at animal abuse. The legislature passed a bill in April 2017 to impose heavier penalties for animal cruelty (with a maximum penalty of up to two years imprisonment and a maximum fine of TWD 2 million (about US$65,000). Moreover, an explicit ban has been imposed on the consumption of cat meat and dog meat with a maximum fine of TWD 250,000 (about US$8,200) for a violator. Formosa was the first country in Asia to pass this ban.
At the same time, in February 2017, Formosa public animal shelters’ zero culling policy came into effect. In the future, only when a veterinarian has determined an animal has a certain infectious disease that has been listed by the government, or serious illness that cannot be cured, can the animal be euthanized. This makes Formosa the second Asian country to implement zero-culling policies, following India.
People are increasingly aware that animals’ lives are precious and are not disposable. In October 2016, the Legislative Yuan passed the amendments to the Regulations on the Administration of Cosmetics and Hygiene, which is expected to take effect officially in 2019. When it goes into effect, the cosmetic industry will not be allowed to test finished products and raw materials with animal experiments.
Congratulations, Formosa, for being a leading nation in Asia for animal rights. We look forward to the day when people can extend their love and care for companion animals, such as cats, dogs, and rabbits, to all animal friends, and when Formosa becomes a vegan paradise where animals and humans live together in peace and happiness.
