BANGKOK, 23 April 2015 – The Cruelty Prevention and Welfare of Animal Act, which has been enacted for four months, will help incite the Thai society on animal treatment and encourage the public to act more against animal abuse, secretary-general of the Thai Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (TSPCA) says.
TSPCA secretary-general Chaichan Laohasiripanya said during a televised program “Thailand Moves Forward” that after the new law came into force, the number of public complaints sent to the TSPCA has increased. The rise does not mean a failure of the legislation, but reflects greater public expectation from the law that it would protect animals from outright cruelty, and culprits would be held accountable, Chaichan stated.
The law imposes a maximum jailterm of two years or a fine of THB 40,000 or both. It allows the TSPCA to intervene when informed of an act of cruelty or neglect. The secretary-general urged the public who see maltreatment to animals to report to his agency or the police although they are not owners of those animals.
The legislation protects not only pets but also animals raised for food, working animals, animals kept for entertainment purposes, wild animals in captivity and animals kept for any other purposes.
