Prevention of Cruelty and Animal Welfare Provision Act 2014 ( th, พระราชบัญญัติป้องกันการทารุณกรรมและการจัดสวัสดิภาพสัตว์ พ.ศ. ๒๕๕๗; literally "Prevention of Cruelty and Animal Welfare Provision Act, 2557
BE") is a parliamentary act of the
National Legislative Assembly of Thailand.
The bill was discussed in the 2014 winter session of the assembly, and was approved by a vote of 188 to 1.
It was officially enacted on 26 December 2014 and came into force the following day. It is Thailand's first
animal welfare
Animal welfare is the well-being of non-human animals. Formal standards of animal welfare vary between contexts, but are debated mostly by animal welfare groups, legislators, and academics. Animal welfare science uses measures such as longevity ...
law.
Its principal mandates are to impel animal owners to provide appropriate care and shelter, and to stop the illegal meat trade.
The act also covers
animals in nature, to the extent determined by the
agricultural minister who is in charge of the act.
It prohibits neglect, torture, and uncaring transport, usage, as well as show of live animals. Neglect includes improper housing and transportation of animals which may lead to injury and death. An offense is punishable by law, which may impose a maximum two years-term in prison, and fine of up to 40,000
baht
The baht (; th, บาท, ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). The issuance of currency is the responsibility of the Bank of Thailand. Society for Worldw ...
(US$1,663), or both.
[
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Background
Thailand is infamous for its stray animals, particularly cats and dogs
The dog (''Canis familiaris'' or ''Canis lupus familiaris'') is a domesticated descendant of the wolf. Also called the domestic dog, it is derived from the extinct Pleistocene wolf, and the modern wolf is the dog's nearest living relative. Do ...
. It is a centre of major illegal dog trade for meat. In addition to domestic use, dogs are exported to China and Vietnam. These animals are cramped up in bags or cages in transit sometimes resulting in death. There are also numerous reports of pet thefts. Many pet owners dump unwanted animals on the street.[
Thailand had no specific legislation for acts of cruelty to animals. There is a minor criminal code under which cruelty to animals is punishable by a maximum one month in prison and a 1,000 baht fine. But the code does not clarify what cruelty is, and was never enforced.] Groups such as the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) is a Thai animal welfare organisation. The society was instrumental in the passing of Thailand's first animal welfare legislation, the ''Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Provision of ...
, and the Soi Dog Foundation
The Soi Dog Foundation is a nonprofit organisation for the welfare of stray dogs and cats. Its headquarters is in Phuket, Thailand, and it has been legally registered in Thailand, the United States, Canada, Australia, France, United Kingdom, Swi ...
, led a global campaign resulting in pressure on the Thai government to take action.[ Kiatiyos Roger Lohanan (aka Roger Lohanan), founder of ]Thai Animal Guardians Association
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode bloc ...
, lobbied against dog eating which initiated the drafting process in 1999. He continue to lobbie lawmakers
A major breakthrough came in April 2012 when the Animal Activist Alliance of Thailand (AAA), collaborating with 30 other animal protection groups protested in front of the parliament. As a result, a parliamentary sub-committee was created to address the draft bill. It had representatives from Thai Animal Guardians Association
Thai or THAI may refer to:
* Of or from Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia
** Thai people, the dominant ethnic group of Thailand
** Thai language, a Tai-Kadai language spoken mainly in and around Thailand
*** Thai script
*** Thai (Unicode bloc ...
, The Voice Foundation and Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
since.
A major breakthrough came in April 2012 when the Animal Activist Alliance of Thailand (AAA), collaborating with 30 other animal protection groups protested in front of the parliament. As a result, a parliamentary sub-committee was created to prepare a draft bill to address the torture and abuse of animals. It had representatives from various animal welfare organisations.
The draft bill titled "Prevention of Cruelty and Animal Welfare Provision Bill" was discussed and voted at the November session of the National Legislative Assembly. It was passed on 12 November by a vote of 188 members for, one against, and four abstentions. The act came into effect on 27 December 2014 as "Prevention of Animal Cruelty and Provision of Animal Welfare Act 2014".[
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Features
The main objective of the act is to ensure adequate care of animals.
The animals protected by this act are those normally raised as pets, raised for work, raised as beasts of burden, raised as friends, raised as livestock, raised for performance, or raised for any other purpose, with or without owners, and including wild animals as designated by the minister in charge of the act ( agricultural minister).
The act defines cruelty to animals as "any action or inaction that causes animal to suffer physically or psychologically, induces pain, illness, disability, or death, including using of disabled, ill, aged, or pregnant animal for exploitation, for sexual activity as well as over working animal or inappropriate work in case of illness, aging or under aging."
Although there is only one article in specific to cruelty and 20 exclusions from such in the law, it does implies against various forms of abuse and dog eating.
The act permits designated officials to search vehicles, homes or businesses without a warrant in urgent situations.
Deserted and injured animals without owner are also protected and can be provided for by the designated officials.
Animal owners are compelled to follow the Five Freedoms principle of animal welfare, namely from hunger or thirst, from discomfort, from pain, injury or disease, from fear and distress, and Freedom to express normal behavior.
Rejected proposals
There were 20 specified acts of cruelty proposed by animal rights groups included in the draft bill that were not approved.
The major points omitted are intended as guidelines against cruel action often found, such as burning animals alive, placing rival animals together, animal fight, eating live animals, etc.
Enforcement
The first offense of the act was reported in January 2015. Kamdee Kotata, a 50 year-old villager in northeastern Nong Khai Province, was arrested by police officers on 5 January. After a dog bit his chicken, the man threw knife at a dog, cutting the dog's face.
See also
* Animal welfare in Thailand
References
External links
*
Animal Cruelty Prevention and Animal Welfare Provision Act, 2557 BE
— text of the act as published in the Government Gazette of Thailand
* {{in lang, th}
Animal Cruelty Prevention and Animal Welfare Provision Act, 2557 BE
— text of the act at the Office of the Council of State of Thailand
Animal welfare in Thailand
Thai legislation