Taiwan bans slaughtering dogs and cats for meat, marking changing attitudes towards animals

Taiwan has passed legislation banning the slaughter of dogs and cats for human consumption.

Anyone caught in breach of the law could face up to two years in prison, as well as large fines and publication of their identity.

The amendments were made to Taiwan's existing animal protection law, which was the first of its kind in Asia.

In 2001, Taiwan banned the sale of meat or organs from pets such as dogs and cats.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen is a renowned cat-lover who famously featured her two felines Think Think and Ah Tsai on social media throughout her presidential campaign. Last year, Ms Tsai also adopted three dogs.

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Dog meat trade likely linked to pet theft: report

Historically, dog meat has been consumed in Asia since the Neolithic age, in modern times however, dog meat is considered to be a delicacy rather than an everyday meal.

Local and international tourism plays a role in the ongoing consumption of dog and cat meat.

The controversial Lychee and Dog Meat Festival in Yulin in China runs for 10 days every year and sees thousands of dogs and cats slaughtered for festival-goers to sample their meat.

Many reports suggest the animals are kept in inhumane conditions leading up to their deaths, which are then often brutal and public.

A 2015 report of a four-year investigation by Animals Asia into the dog meat industry in China found no evidence of any large-scale breeding facilities in the country, supporting long-term claims that majority of animals killed for human consumption are stolen pets or stray animals.

Vocabularies:

# Legislation: n. 立法；法律

# Slaughter:  n. 屠宰，屠杀  vt. 屠宰，屠杀；

# Amendents: n. 修正（amendment的复数）；修正案

# Renowned: adj. 著名的；有声望的

# Feline: n. 猫科动物 adj. 猫科的；狡猾的

# Neolithic: adj. [古] 新石器时代的；早先的

# Delicacy: n. 美味；佳肴；微妙；精美

# controversial: adj. 有争议的；有争论的

# Brutal: adj. 残忍的；野蛮的，不讲理的

# Stray: n. 走失的家畜 adj. 迷路的