Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Legislator Chiu Chih-wei (邱志偉) has proposed a draft amendment to the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法) to provide a legal basis to fine people who buy, sell or eat any product that contains dog or cat meat.
Chiu’s proposed amendment, if passed, would see violators fined between NT$50,000 and NT$250,000 (US$1,532.71 and US$7,663.54).
Citing the Kaohsiung City Autonomous Animal Protection Act (高雄市動物保護自治條例), which was passed last year and prohibits anyone from buying, selling or eating any product that contains dog or cat meat, Chiu said the initiative should be adopted nationwide to provide better animal protection.
The amendment would also prohibit animal owners from leading their animals by car or scooter or face a fine of between NT$15,000 and NT$75,000, Chiu said, adding that the amendment would require individuals who abandon their pets or use them for gambling or competitions to attend a mandatory course on animal protection.
DPP Legislator-at-large Frida Tsai (蔡培慧) also proposed a ban on animals being used in public performances, saying that if any organization or person wants to use an animal to interact with an audience, they must first submit a permit application.
Any organization or person that wants to use animals in public performances must accept an assessment prior to their activities, with an assessor reserving the right to revoke the permit if the assessment fails.
If the amendment passes, violators would be fined between NT$100,000 and NT$3 million, Tsai said.
Many animals that are used in public performances are treated inhumanely, Tsai said, citing how dolphins, a key part of marine performances, are often kept in unsatisfactory environments.
Liao Chun-pin (廖俊斌), chief executive officer of Yehliu Ocean World in New Taipei City, said that while he had no opinion on the proposed amendments, the government should include academics and industry experts in their discussions instead of demonizing establishment owners.
Liao said that Yehliu Ocean World is not a circus, but rather an organization that raises and cares for dolphins and sea lions, adding that he would welcome anyone who wanted to visit Ocean World to see how the organization cares for its animals.
The amendments could put some establishments out of business, Liao said, adding that without any income, the establishments would be unable to afford staff or other expenses related to animal care.
Meanwhile, the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in Pingtung County said it does not use animals in “performances,” as it sees itself as a museum for conserving marine life.
However, it said that people can still observe the museum’s animals and listen to guides when the animals are fed.
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Democratic Progressive Party caucus chief executive Rosalia Wu, front, grabs the pennant in a dragon boat race hosted by Qu Yuan Temple in the Shuanghsi River in Taipei’s Beitou District yesterday.
RSS