A video clip of an animal documentary plays like this: a herd of cattle drinking along a stream is attacked by leopards. The cattle disperse in fear, but a calf that is moving slower is bitten by a leopard. The leopard and the calf struggle with each other, one trying to escape from the sharp fangs, and the other trying to break the calf’s neck. Time slowly passes. At the moment of life and death, when the calf is about to become a meal for the leopard, the herd of cattle that had run away appears once again, and they work together to deliver powerful kicks to the leopard. Using their strong bodies and working as a group, they frighten the leopard away. And the calf on the ground, which most thought unable to survive, miraculously gets up. Surrounded by the herd, the calf returns to the cattle and leaves the stream.

For a long time, humans have relied on their ability and civilization to gain a huge advantage for survival in this world. At the same time, humans are impinging on the space of other animals for survival and even harmed other animals with this tremendous power. Fortunately, people have recognized animals’ dignity and right to survive, as well as the fact that animals have feelings for their kin and group. Also, ecologically, socioally, economically and ethically, men and other animals affect each other. Therefore, the concept of animal protection has gradually grown.

The focus is now shifted to Taiwan. In addition to the incorporation of animal protection concepts from around the world and the promotion and efforts of local organizations, the Council of Agriculture has also developed related policies and measures for the promotion of animal protection.

Following the enactment of the Wildlife Conservation Act in 1989, the Animal Protection Act was initiated in 1998. Unlike the Wildlife Conservation Act, the purpose of the Animal Protection Act is respect for animal life and protection of animals. The animals referred to in this act include dogs, cats and other vertebrate animals raised or under the management of people, including economic animals, laboratory animals, pets and other animals.

The central managing organization for the Animal Protection Act is the Council of Agriculture, while the executive organizations are local governments in each city and county. The Department of Animal Husbandry, Council of Agriculture manages general affairs for animal protection, including management of pets, laboratory animals and economic animals. The Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) is responsible for the acceptance and management of stray animals and supervision, maintenance and management of each city and county animal shelter. In terms of technical cooperation and consultative training, the Council of Agriculture has currently signed a cooperative memorandum of understanding with the American Humane Society, an animal protection organization in the United States. Nationally, the Council has engaged in long-term cooperation with National Taiwan University, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, the Chinese-Taipei Society of Laboratory Animal Sciences, the National Laboratory Animal Center and the Animal Technology Institute Taiwan.

Since the enactment of the Animal Protection Act, the achievements have been great:

1. Formulation of Setup Procedures for the Animal Protection Committee, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan and Setup Procedures for the Laboratory Animal Ethics Committee, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan
2. Formulation announcement and enactment of the Pet Registering and Management Methods
3. Formulation announcement and enactment of the Management and Fee Collection Standards for Pet Registration, and For-Profit Pet Reproduction, Sales or Fostering Business
4. Formulation of designated dogs as pets needing registration and vaccination documentation with rabies as a required vaccination document during pet registration
5. Formulation of the Detailed Principles of the Animal Protection Act, announcement and enactment
6. Formulation of prohibition on raising, importing and exporting designated animals
7. Formulation announcement and enactment of the Pet Business Management Act
8. Announcement of aggressive pets and necessary protective measures against these animals in entry and exit of public areas
9. Formulation of Setup Methods for Animal Lab Management Team
10. Announcement and enactment of Assessment and Guidance Points
11. Regarding Applied Animal Science Organizations
12. Announcement and enactment of Operational Standards for Humane Canine Capture
13. Announcement and enactment of the Animal Transport and Management Methods
14. Announcement and enactment of the Regulations Regarding Tools, Methods, and Feeding Times of Pig Transportation
15. Announcement and enactment of the Humane Methods for the Slaughter of Economic Animals
16. Assistance for each county and city in the construction and renovation of animal shelters.
17. Assistance for each county and city in the sterilization of stray animals
18. Promotion of the adoption of stray animals
19. Supervision of the operations of animal protection inspectors in each county and city and provision of training
Creation of the Animal Protection Information Network
20. Strengthened international exchange and cooperation to acquire professional skills and experience from foreign countries

However, the implemented laws still need to be properly adjusted with the change of time and relationships between humans and animals. It has been nine years since the enactment of the Animal Protection Act, which has been amended five times. In the July 2007 revision, penalties were included for the first time. For an individual who harasses, abuses or harms an animal without reason, resulting in severe injury or death, the person will be sentenced to a prison term of one year (or less). For a person who harasses, abuses or abandons an animal or slaughters an animal or pet without meeting regulations more than two times in five years will also be sentenced to a prison term of one year or less. The sixth amendment was passed on December 14th of the same year. In the Legislative Yuan, a draft to amend certain articles of the Animal Protection Act have been passed. The aim of the revision was to increase pet owners’ responsibilities, strengthen management of the pet business, improve professional training of animal-related personnel and increase penalties.

 Looking at our lives, animals’ significance to humans is not only to sacrifice themselves to provide food for us, to provide data for many scientific studies or to provide labor for us. Animals give people realizations and experience of life and social habits. More importantly, they give people emotional companionship. No matter whether it is human or animal life, they all have an emotional side. Due to this emotion, the world does not seem so cold and is more hopeful. Speaking of this, animals have provided a great contribution to us. Can we not call them angels? Let us together protect these animal angels!