Animal Rights Amendment

I think it is a positive step forward for Taiwan to pass protection laws that fine people for abusing animals. The intent is good, but I'm not sure it will deter people from abusing animals the same way as they've done before. I think that the Tiawanese government should have passed this law a long time ago because there is a lot happening that people are either too ignorant or apathetic to care. People should know about the law and the consequences that are related if they mistreat animals. I don't think many people know about the law, or if they do they don't pay any attention because they think it doesn't apply to them. That's the problem with laws and policies. Even if you do know about, it doesn't mean you'll actually do anything if someone you know does something illegal or wrong. In the case of animal rights, abuses happen every day. I think Taiwanese society is stigmatized to think that thins like suicide and bombings are more relevant to their lives than when the neighbor's cat is starved and beaten as a play toy. The news that is broadcasted doesn't mention animal rights abuses as often as murders or suicides or legislators trying to kill each other or money laundering schemes. There's not enough exposure to what animals go through that are abused. On the other hand, it could be that too much of what animal rights groups say is propagandized and sounds patronizing, so the public just ignores them.

Many adults I know don't think harming animals is illegal because they grew up in an environment where their parents hurt animals, sometimes doing that for a living. It's quite disgusting when hear them talk about animals like their objects. I hear stories of animal rights abuses that people think are normal. for instance, running over dogs on the highway or throwing them out of windows. Some of the reactions to unwanted animls are clearly a result of a very base understnading of caring about the natural environment. I think the way parents and teachers act influence their kids to an extreme, so their kids emulate the same behaviors. A lot of cultural ideas about certain topics that are wrong aren't addressed and just accepted as right. Also, the police aren't called in to investigate unless PETA or somebody who cares pushes them to do it. They are too busy with traffic accidents, suicides, murders, etc. On the news, you don't hear police officers saying they just rescued some dog from a horrible owner. No, instead they say they just arrested some crazy person who wanted to burn their boss's house down or something. It's just exasperating what some people in this country think is important. It's not anyone's fault, it's more cultural than anything else. Of course, every country has problems with animal abuse. I guess what I'm trying to say is people should be extra careful in dealing with animals because they aren't like humans who can respond with language. They need to be protected because they can't speak for themselves.