Without an "Anti-Animal Abuse Law," will there be no punishment for abusing cats and dogs?

On April 27, 2023, the Funan County Public Security Bureau in Anhui Province reported that 29-year-old Xu X Hui from Lucheng Town had abused a cat in a small grove and recorded the act on video, which he then shared in a QQ group, causing widespread public outrage. He was placed under administrative detention in accordance with the Public Security Administration Punishment Law.

Xu, known online as “Jack Latiao,” had 354,000 followers on the video platform Bilibili, where he was verified as a “well-known food content creator.” In 2022, he had even been recognized as a “Funan Good Samaritan.”

In recent years, animal abuse cases have repeatedly occurred in universities and communities across China. Each time, there are renewed calls for the enactment of a national Anti-Animal Cruelty Law. So, is it really true that there are no legal consequences for abusing animals in China right now? Why has such a law still not been introduced?

To explore these questions, we spoke with Professor Qian Yefang from the Law School at Zhongnan University of Economics and Law. Since 2017, she has been closely studying animal protection legislation in China and has been a vocal advocate for a dedicated animal protection law. In her view, before such a law can be passed, the more urgent issue is law enforcement.

 "Mainland China's animal protection laws are incomplete."

Sanlian Life Weekly: Recently, a series of incidents involving animal abuse and the sale of videos depicting such abuse have once again drawn public attention. Could you start by explaining—what exactly constitutes “animal abuse”?

Qian Yefang: 

What qualifies as animal abuse can vary depending on the country or region—it largely depends on the level of animal protection in place. In countries where animal welfare is taken very seriously, the definition of abuse tends to be broader and more detailed. For example, in some Nordic countries, keeping only one goldfish or a single guinea pig is considered abuse, because these animals are social by nature and need companionship.

In mainland China, there is currently no unified legal definition of animal abuse. There’s an argument that the lack of a clear definition is the reason anti-animal abuse legislation has stalled. But that’s nonsense. Animal abuse is a global issue. I’ve said before—if you really can’t figure out what qualifies as animal abuse, just look at how other countries or even Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan define it. Why not learn from them?

Or, think of it this way: compare violence against people with violence against animals. Some acts of extreme cruelty against humans are universally recognized as abuse—and when similar acts are done to animals, they should be just as clear.

My personal definition of animal abuse is: any act—whether intentional or due to gross negligence—that, apart from necessary actions for feeding, management, or medical care, causes an animal to die, lose normal physiological function, or suffer unnecessary pain or injury. This includes actions such as cruelly beating, kicking, tormenting, provoking, frightening, excessively driving or forcing movement, as well as failing to provide necessary food, space for activity, or medical treatment.

Sanlian Life Weekly: Every time there’s an animal abuse incident, there are widespread public calls for an Anti-Animal Cruelty Law. What’s the current state of animal protection laws in China?

Qian Yefang:

Every time an animal abuse case comes to light, we see nationwide outrage, followed by demands for legislation. I understand this sentiment. However, I must stress that this often gives the public—especially those who abuse animals—the false impression that “our country has no laws protecting animals,” which can embolden them to act with impunity. That’s why I keep emphasizing:

First, we do have laws in China that protect animals. At the very least, violent abuse of animals and the spread of violent content involving animals are clearly illegal and punishable by law. There are multiple laws that include protections against animal abuse—such as the Wildlife Protection Law, Animal Husbandry Law, Regulations on the Administration of Laboratory Animals, Animal Epidemic Prevention Law, and the Hog Slaughtering Regulations. In addition, other regulations like the Administrative Measures for Online Performances, the Railway Law, and the Implementation Rules of the Postal Law also contain provisions that prohibit animal abuse and impose various legal liabilities.

Meanwhile, acts that disrupt public order through animal abuse or spreading violent animal abuse content online can be punished under laws like the Public Security Administration Punishment Law, the Law on the Protection of Minors, and the Cybersecurity Law. In short, both offline abuse and online distribution of such content are not only condemned by current laws, but there is also a legal framework in place—ranging from civil, administrative, to criminal liability.

We’ve already seen this in action: in the "Taiyuan boiling water cat abuse case," the "Shangqiu washing machine corgi case," and the "Fuyang 'Jack Latiao' cat torture video case." In these incidents, the police issued warnings, demanded written guarantees, required public apologies, or imposed administrative detention. In severe cases, perpetrators can be charged with crimes like “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” or “illegal business operations,” leading to criminal punishment.

Second, as you can see from the first point, China’s current animal protection laws are quite fragmented—and yes, in many ways incomplete. There isn’t yet a comprehensive legal system. Legal responsibilities are not always clearly defined. Our laws follow a classification-based approach, with separate regulations for livestock, wild animals, and lab animals—but notably, there is no national law specifically for companion animals like cats and dogs. As a result, there’s no unified standard across regions for the protection and management of companion animals. When such animals are abused, we have to rely on laws like the Public Security Administration Punishment Law or the Cybersecurity Law, which are not always adequate. What we really need is full lifecycle regulation—from birth to death—for pets like cats and dogs.

We also still lack a general law that covers all animals—something like an Animal Cruelty Prevention Law or Animal Protection Law. In other countries and regions, the legal system usually consists of a general animal protection law, supplemented by specialized laws for different animal categories. Together, they form a comprehensive legal framework.

Sanlian Life Weekly: Why is there still no legislation specifically for companion animals, or a general law that covers all animals under the current legal system?

Qian Yefang:

There are historical reasons. In ancient China, animal protection existed both morally and legally. After the founding of the People’s Republic, especially following the reform and opening-up, the focus was on economic development. Later, political, cultural, and ecological concerns were added to the national agenda. But animal protection never fully entered the conversation.

For example, in the 1980s, there was strong attention on wildlife—but much of it was driven by viewing animals as natural resources or by international pressure to protect biodiversity and ecosystems. Only through years of legal revisions did real protective intent become clearer.

But for animals without strong economic or political value—like companion animals—they’ve long been ignored or exploited. Abuses in industries that mistreat cats and dogs, or even kill and sell them illegally, have been allowed to exist in the shadows.

So from a legislative standpoint, beyond pushing for a general Animal Protection Law, the most practical step now is to fill the gap with a Companion Animal Protection and Management Law. In real life, most abuse involves animals like cats and dogs—those closest to us. I call this the “cat-and-dog effect”: the way a society treats its cats and dogs reflects its overall moral state and social stability. I believe the relationship is overall positive.

Sanlian Life Weekly: How do we define and classify “companion animals”?

Qian Yefang:

China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs refers specifically to cats and dogs as companion animals, rather than “pets.” The term “pet” implies a kind of dependency or utility—making abandonment or abuse seem more acceptable.

Some people also keep farm animals like ducks or pigs, or exotic creatures like lizards and snakes, as pets. If these animals are abused while being kept as pets, it becomes part of a more complex animal protection framework. In such cases, the Companion Animal Protection and Management Law could serve as a reference—but ultimately, we need a comprehensive Animal Protection Law that covers all animals.

I suggest we name it something more in line with China’s national context, like the Animal Protection and Management Law, rather than sticking with a more basic version like the “Anti-Animal Cruelty Law.” This broader law should offer detailed classifications, definitions of abuse, and clear punishments.

"The More Urgent Issue Right Now is Law Enforcement"

Sanlian Life Weekly: Animal abuse is technically punishable by law, and serious cases can even fall under the Criminal Law. So why, despite frequent abuse cases on campuses and in society, hasn’t there been a single widely known case with a serious punishment? Some netizens even say that after “Jack Latiao” was released from detention, he continued abusing cats in secret livestreams.

Qian Yefang:

Exactly—this points to a deeper issue: law enforcement, not just legislation. Right now, enforcement is more urgent. When authorities fail to act or shirk responsibility, it sends the message that animal abusers won’t be punished—or not seriously.

In the Jack Latiao case, the impact was severe enough that it may have violated the Criminal Law’s “picking quarrels and provoking trouble” clause. According to a 2013 judicial interpretation, if someone abuses the law to seek thrills, vent emotions, or create public disturbances—especially online—they can be sentenced to up to five years in prison. But unfortunately, many enforcement officers don’t recognize this. Like others, they may think, “It’s just a stray animal—not a big deal.”

It’s true that no animal abuse case in China has yet resulted in criminal charges, but that doesn’t mean the law can’t apply. Some volunteers have even tried to file civil lawsuits over abuse of stray animals, but under current law, plaintiffs must have a direct interest in the case—so they were ruled ineligible. The proper legal avenues should be public interest lawsuits or criminal prosecution.

Sanlian Life Weekly: Regarding the proposal to create a comprehensive Anti-Animal Cruelty Law covering all animals, when did this call first arise in China? In 2010, some legal experts and animal protection groups drafted a “Draft Anti-Animal Cruelty Law (Expert Proposal).” Were you following this at the time?

Qian Yefang:

I wasn’t paying attention back then. It wasn’t until 2017, while rescuing stray animals, that I heard the claim that “there are no laws protecting stray animals.” I thought, how could that be true? So I systematically studied all existing animal-related laws in China and found it wasn’t the case. It’s not that China has no “Animal Protection Law”—there simply isn’t a single, dedicated national law titled that way, nor a specific law for companion animals.

What I found is that since the late 1990s, every time there’s an animal abuse incident, it sparks huge public outrage. With social progress, starting around 2006, lawmakers and political representatives have repeatedly submitted proposals to enact a dedicated animal protection law—and quite a few of them.

The 2010 “Draft Anti-Animal Cruelty Law (Expert Proposal)” actually evolved from a 2009 “Draft Animal Protection Law.” Its content was solid and drew from animal protection laws worldwide. But when the draft was released, some clauses—like banning cat and dog meat—sparked chaotic public debate, which probably troubled the experts who wrote it.

Sanlian Life Weekly: Could you explain the main obstacles to passing a dedicated Anti-Animal Cruelty Law or a specific Companion Animal Protection and Management Law?

Qian Yefang:

 In recent years, lawmakers have repeatedly submitted proposals on this. I even drafted a Companion Animal Protection and Management Law proposal in 2018 and passed it to representatives. But after six years, the consistent response from the National People’s Congress, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other authorities is: opposing animal cruelty reflects social progress, existing laws cover most issues, and there’s no consensus yet to pass specialized legislation.

I don’t agree with the idea that “no consensus has been reached.” Historically, no law has ever been passed without controversy. Every country faced resistance or ridicule when introducing animal protection laws. Disagreement is normal—the key is whether the law represents progress.

The Ministry of Agriculture also points out that China has a long history of using animals in production and processing industries, involving complex factors like customs, religion, and ethics. But an animal protection law doesn’t ban these industries—it bans cruelty in the process. Protecting animals means setting a clear bottom line against abuse. This shouldn’t vary by region or culture, and there’s no “East-West” difference here.

Today, over 190 countries have general animal protection laws. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan passed theirs decades ago. Hong Kong’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance started in 1935, despite some public opposition, and was strengthened in 1950 with a Cats and Dogs Ordinance. Over time, laws shaped public opinion and values.

Compared to Hong Kong nearly 90 years ago, China’s awareness of animal protection is certainly not behind. The law should no longer stay silent.

Sanlian Life Weekly: In recent years, some Chinese cities have introduced local animal protection regulations—for example, Suzhou bans abandoning and abusing dogs, and Shenzhen prohibits eating cats and dogs. How effective are these local rules? And what’s the relationship between local regulations and a formal national protection law?

Qian Yefang:

 There aren’t many local animal protection laws; most focus on dog management. Except for Shenzhen, no other place explicitly bans eating cats and dogs. Suzhou’s rule banning anyone from abandoning or abusing animals is rare—most local dog laws only forbid owners from abandoning or abusing their dogs. For instance, the 2021 revised Hubei Animal Epidemic Prevention Regulation bans abandoning cats but doesn’t prohibit abuse.

Local laws are better than none, but there are problems:

 First, local laws mainly focus on managing and restricting dog ownership to promote civilized behavior—they lack a real protection mindset.

 Second, local laws cannot impose criminal penalties—only fines or administrative detention. Criminal responsibility requires national legislation.

 Third, and most important, no law works without enforcement. Many places have clear rules on dog registration, licensing, and vaccination, yet abandonment and poor care remain common because enforcement is weak.

So I want everyone, including animal welfare volunteers, to realize that the most urgent issue now is proper enforcement. Passing new specialized laws takes time—we don’t have to wait to act.

Sanlian Life Weekly: As ordinary people, what can we do if we see animal abuse or suspected poisoning online or offline?

Qian Yefang:

First, everyone should know that animal abuse is against the law, and we all can do something basic to fight it.

Online, I don’t recommend sharing photos or videos of animal abuse because that spreads violence and can harm minors’ mental health or even encourage copycats. Instead, report the abuser’s account to the platform—sometimes they’ll suspend the account or take other actions. You can also report to the Cybersecurity Administration. If you have the energy, you can call the local prosecutor’s office to provide tips for public interest lawsuits.

Offline, if you see a stray animal that may have been poisoned, the simplest step is to call the police. Poisoning involves dangerous substances and is a public safety issue. Make sure to preserve the scene, the animal’s body, and any suspicious substances. Take photos or videos if possible. Even stray animals deserve attention, and local officers should arrange testing. Based on results, they can decide whether to open a case.

Don’t wait for a specialized law to protect animals—many can’t wait that long. The more people act, the more pressure law enforcement feels, and that motivates them to do their job. We all live in communities, and abuse happens there. Protecting animals nearby and reducing local abuse is how we can stop widespread cruelty.