China has come out with a draft of the country's first law on animal protection on June 19 , which proposes a fine of up to 6,000 yuan (around 878 U.S. dollars) and two weeks detention for those found guilty of animal abuse.
The draft also proposes a prohibition on pet owners from breeding their animals and compulsory implantation of data chips in pets to track down their owners in case the animals are found abandoned, Friday's China Daily reported.
Chang Jiwen, author of the draft who is director of the social law research department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted as saying that the proposal would be submitted to the State Council by the end of the year.
A law on animal protection seems imperative in China as cases of animal abuse constantly arise. The latest case refers to last month, when at least 30,000 dogs were culled in Hanzhong, Shaanxi province, following a rabies outbreak. About 6,200 people were reportedly bitten by dogs and 12 died.
The draft must go through the State Council and receive three readings at the National People's Congress Standing Committee before being adopted as law.