We hope to raise awareness in relation to local and international animal law and welfare by presenting the latest news stories and articles from around the world. Sign up to our newsletter to keep informed about the latest news.
On 9 February 2022, the Italian Parliament voted in favour of a Constitutional Bill which will grant constitutional protection to animals and the environment. It joins a handful of other countries (such as Switzerland, Germany, India, and Austria) to grant full rights to animals through the constitution.
Read MoreOwners of a 3-year-old samoyed named Snowball have shared videos on Weibo of an anti-pandemic worker in the Guangdong Province beating Snowball to death with a bat while the they were undergoing hotel quarantine.
The owners also posted screenshots of their conversation with the 2 anti-pandemic workers in which she notified them of the dog’s presence before they came to disinfect her apartment. The owner also informed the workers that Snowball was not aggressive and would not bite.
Courtesy of Michelle Cheung
Read MoreA recent study has concluded that wrasse can achieve mirror self-recognition by subjecting them to a famous experiment known as the mark test, in which an artificial mark is placed on the body of an animal while it is anaesthetised. If the animal inspects the mark on its body in a mirror, or tries to touch it or remove it, it suggests that it has identified itself in the reflection, rather than mistaking the mirror image for some other individual.
While some mammals and birds have passed the mark test, Masanori Kohda, biologist at Graduate School of Science in Osaka City University, and his colleagues were the first to claim that a fish had achieved this cognitive milestone.
Read MoreThe Sri Lankan Cabinet has recently passed the long-awaited Animal Welfare Bill which was first drafted in 2006. The Bill will include a broader definition of ‘animal’, introduce new offences, and increase the maximum punishment for animal cruelty. Although the passing of the bill is a significant step for animal welfare in Sri Lanka, it still requires Parliamentary approval before it can be enforced.
Courtesy of Jing Shan Wong
Read MoreWorld Spay Day has been celebrated on the fourth Tuesday of February each year since 1995. In this month’s instalment of Tell Me More! we interview Dr. Michael Bradley from the Stanley Veterinary Centre to discuss the importance of spays and neuters of all species.
Read MoreThe Massachusetts House of Representatives and State Senate passed a bill that ensures law enforcement officers' K-9 partners receive life-saving medical attention and transport if they are injured in the line of duty.
The bill, known as Nero's Law, was drafted in response to the April 2018 shooting that claimed the life of Yarmouth Police K-9 Sgt. Sean Gannon, a New Bedford native, and severely injured his K-9 partner, Nero. Despite its life-threatening injuries and the desperate need for immediate treatment, the emergency medical personnel were unable to transport it because of the state law ban.
Courtesy of Kelly Ma.
Read MoreOn 21 February 2022, a woman who filmed putting her cat in a washing machine and turning it on has been sentenced Wong to a 80-hour Community Service Order and a fine of over HK$27,000 paid to the SPCA for the cat’s medical expenses.
She posted the video on Instagram while joking that it was a “prank” on her cat as payback for defecating in her box earlier that day. The video showed the terrified cat attempted to push open the washing machine door but to no avail.
Incredibly, the Judge also agreed for the cat to be returned to her as the case was “not particularly serious”. Perhaps this incident will raise the question of whether the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, Cap 169 should afford Judges the power of disqualification for those who commit offences against animals.
Courtesy of Michelle Lin
Read MoreA Spanish court has imposed a sentence of 1.5 years imprisonment and €7.2 million fine for possession and marketing of a protected species on a smuggler attempting to traffic 65 kilogrammes of eel into Morocco. The Times UK reports that the quantum of the fine amounts to the value of the damage to the environment, as calculated by the regional agriculture ministry, and sets the world record for largest fine imposed for eel smuggling.
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young
Read MoreNorway has banned the selective breeding of British Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, after a court ruled that the practice is cruel and results in 'man-made health problems' for the animals.
Oslo District Court ruled on Monday that breeding the brachycephalic (flat faced) dogs breaches the Scandinavian country's Animal Welfare Act. The decision bans the two iconic dog breeds that originated in Britain, with the British Bulldog commonly referred to as the national animal of the United Kingdom.
Read MoreIn November 2020, the US National Fish and Wildlife Service (“Service”) enacted a rule removing protections contained in the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (“ESA”) for the Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) by removing the species from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife (“Rule”). The rule was overturned by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey S. White in the judgment of Defenders of Wildlife v U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service dated 10 February 2022, reinstating federal protection in 44 of the lower 48 states.
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young
Read MoreSouth African animal rights activist Bool Smuts recently won an important appeal case before the Supreme Court of Appeal . The judgment contains a significant restatement of animal rights as recognised in South African law, and re-affirms the right of freedom of speech for activists.
In finding for Bool Smuts, the Court of Appeal held that issue related to the ethics, cruelty and vile treatment of the animals. Apart from the unlawfulness, the public had the right to know about the activities of [Botha’s] business that directly impact animals. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal held: -
“It is axiomatic that animals are worthy of protection not because of the reflection that this casts on human values but because, as Appeal Judge Cameron has previously held, ‘animals are sentient beings that are capable of suffering and experiencing pain’ and unfortunately ‘humans are capable of inflicting suffering on animals and causing them pain”
Read MoreLegislation banning the slaughter of hatched day-old chicks entered into force in Germany on 1 January 2022 Simultaneously, a ban on the killing of male chicks by crushing or gassing entered into force in France. The two political efforts are, as the German Minister for Food and Agriculture, Julia Klöckner said, a “significant step forward for animal welfare”, being the first countries in the world to impose such ban. Germany and France are calling on other members of the European Union to follow suit.
Courtesy of Andy Au
Read MoreGucci has been called out by non-profit animal rights organisation World Animal Protection for "glorifying captive wild animals" in its latest Gucci Tiger collection in celebration of the Year of the Tiger. The luxury brand had released campaign images of models with real tigers superimposed into them.
Nonetheless, the luxury brand was called out by Nick Stewart, World Animal Protection's global head of wildlife campaigns, who said that Gucci is sending the wrong message through its ads - even if it has used digital technology - by portraying tigers as pets and luxury items when they are wild animals who belong in their natural habitats.
Read MoreThe Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (“AFCD”) announced today (18 January 2022) that approximately 2,000 animals will be seized and euthanised over concerns of animal-to-human transmission of COVID-19. This will include 1,000 hamsters and other animals from the pet store Little Boss in Causeway Bay and its animal warehouse in Tai Po, and any hamsters being sold in pet stores across Hong Kong. The AFCD further announced that any hamsters purchased on or after 22 December 2021 should be handed over to the AFCD for testing and euthanisation.
Courtesy of Audrey O’Young
Read MoreBerlin police dogs trained to attack perpetrators have been put on an enforced break, along with their handlers, over contradictions between the methods used to control them and a new law to prevent cruelty to dogs.
The use of pulling collars to channel a police dog’s aggression towards an agitator or potential criminal contravenes the law, introduced by the former agriculture minister, which came into force on 1 January.
The training of “Schutzhunde”, or protection dogs, involves being able to control when a dog ends an attack, by tugging briefly on a “pulling collar” to restricts the animal’s airway. The logic is that if a dog’s aggression, considered necessary for the apprehension, is not controlled, it could cause serious injury or death to the perpetrator.
Read MoreCome early January, it will be illegal for Texas dog owners to chain up their pets outside. Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in October to help ensure more humane care for companion animals. Violations are considered a Class C misdemeanours punishable by a fine up to $500, according to the bill.
On 8 January 2021, a pigeon was found dead, having been trapped in green netting installed by the Hong Kong Government, in order to deter birds from gathering under the cover of the Star Ferry Bus Terminus.
The green nets, along with bird spikes were installed several years ago to act as a deterrent, but the Hong Kong Pigeon and Dove Rescue (HKPDR), has urged authorities to remove the nets as pigeons have been injured or strangled to death by them. HKPDR said it had seen pigeons previously trapped by bird spikes and had contacted the relevant departments for response, but to no avail.
HKPDR said wildlife management should adopt a humane, animal-based, adding that it had earlier proposed more humane measures including setting up pigeon boxes. But all suggestions had been turned down by authorities.
Courtesy of HKALPO
Read MoreOn 7 January 2022, thirty-seven pedigree kittens and puppies were confiscated along with HK$4.1 million (US$525,600) worth of bull penis and deer tails in a Hong Kong anti-smuggling operation, the year’s first major contraband seizure.
The 30 cats and seven dogs were smuggled into the city from Shekou by speedboat, according to local officials, who also found 48 boxes of frozen bull penis and deer tails– bound for mainland China, where it is prized for its supposed health properties – during the joint police and customs operation.
Courtesy of HKALPO
Read MoreArtists who Love Animals & Nature (A.L.A.N) is a non-profit platform created to gather creatives who want to use their skills to help raise awareness to animal, conservation and environmental issue, with the aim to drive social change. A.L.A.N brings like minded talents to collaborate for a common goal.
The most recent project A.L.A.N has been working on, has been in response to the recent wild boar/human interactions. Dubbed “Live With Boars”, A.LA.N has brought together talented local artists and NGO’s together and created instagram filters and animated stickers on WhatsApp, which not only raise greater awareness as to certain characteristics of wild boars, but also is a valuable opportunity to open dialogue on how to achieve a peaceful co-existence between animal and humans.
In this instalment of Tell Me More, HKALPO interviews the co-founders of a cross-discipline design & technology studio, who continue to create digital, experimental and living art, not only as a way of raising greater awareness of the challenges that face both humans and animals, but also to educate the public, so we do not make the same mistakes again: -
Andy Stokes & Anita Lam: Co-Founders of The Collective, who are continuing to inspire, educate and raise awareness through a technologically creative and curated lens.
A ban on selling most ivory products in Hong Kong has recently come into force, the culmination of a three-year process to eliminate the once rampant trade in the city. The new rules ban the “import, re-export, and commercial possession of elephant ivory”, but make an exception for antique pieces dating from before 1925. Offenders could face a maximum fine of HK$10 million (US$1.3 million) and 10 years’ imprisonment.
WildAid Hong Kong has been advocating for a complete ban for many years and has worked closely with partners and legislators on the ivory law. WildAid has also tracked over 100 ivory stores in Hong Kong, with 80% of those shops now closed or changed to another business.
The onus now falls on the Government, to ensure that those traders that continue to sell mammoth ivory, which is still legal, are strictly regulated and controlled. A simple mechanism needs to be developed to identify ivory and to conduct regular inspections, otherwise the ban is powerless.
Courtesy of Kat Mak.
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