Target: Zhao Leji, Chairman, Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China
Goal: Advance national companion-animal protections with enforceable penalties for proven torture, severe neglect, and abandonment, alongside clear investigative responsibilities.
A cat or dog should not depend on public outrage alone for protection. A supplied account alleges ongoing torture, severe neglect, and abandonment of companion animals while identifying gaps in legal accountability. The broader legislative question is clear: animal suffering deserves direct, enforceable protection with defined consequences for proven wrongdoing.
Sanming published a draft companion-animal regulation, but reporting later found it removed from official websites before consultation ended. The available account does not establish whether it was canceled permanently or withdrawn for revision. Nor is it accurate to assume that every harmful act involving pets is beyond existing law; other offenses may apply in particular circumstances.
Fragmented protections leave questions about investigation, care, and responsibility unresolved. National legislation can define prohibited conduct and create consistent enforcement procedures, while respecting lawful processes. Urge the legislature to advance a companion-animal protection framework with proportionate penalties, funded implementation, and practical safeguards for animals facing documented harm.
PETITION LETTER:
Dear Chairman Zhao,
Please place effective companion-animal protection on the legislative agenda. The uncertainty surrounding the Sanming proposal demonstrates the need for a clear legal foundation that local authorities can implement. Allegations of deliberate torture, prolonged deprivation, and abandonment deserve a system capable of establishing facts, protecting animals, and imposing consequences when offenses are proven.
We ask for legislation that defines prohibited cruelty precisely, assigns investigative duties, and provides lawful emergency measures for animals in danger. Veterinary documentation, evidence preservation, and fair procedures should be integral to enforcement. Penalties should reflect severity and repeated conduct, with appropriate restrictions on keeping animals where justified. Existing remedies should remain available during reform.
Please support public consultation involving veterinarians, enforcement agencies, legal scholars, and animal welfare organizations, with a transparent timetable. The law should address the animal’s suffering directly rather than depend entirely on a separate property or public safety offense. Advance enforceable protections, meaningful penalties for future proven violations, and the resources needed to make those safeguards work in practice.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Mostafameraji
