Have heavier penalties for animal cruelty
05:55 AM Sep 18, 2010
Letter from David Kwok Ng Kan
WITH animal cruelty on the rise, as in the case of a Pomeranian that was hurled repeatedly against a wall and when a box of kittens was thrown from a flat, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority should ensure that those who abuse animals are punished adequately.
Although those found guilty of animal cruelty can be fined up to $10,000 or jailed for up to a year, none of the abusers has felt the full impact of the law.
A strong signal should be sent to would-be animal abusers. Heavier penalties and mandatory caning should be added as a form of deterrence. The jail term could be increased to 10 years or more.
Any cruelty should not merely be tolerated as animals should be protected. If such acts are carried out on human beings, they would have been classified as murder or manslaughter. Animal abuse should be seen in a similar light.
