Penalty Issue According to the Animal Abuse Prevention and Welfare Act, 2014 Compared to the Criminal Code

Abstract

This article examines issues with penalties for animal cruelty in Section 20 and Section 30 of the Prevention and Suppression of Animals Act BE 2557 in comparison with the offense of assault in Section 295 and the offense of harming others not to a degree of harming the body or mind in Section 391 of the Criminal Code. The author discusses only issues of dogs and cats as pets. It is found that the law on animal cruelty is equivalent to the offense against humans. It penalties are more severe than those for the offense of harming others not to a degree of harming the body or mind. The author regards this as not appropriate. The law should impose equal penalties on offenses against humans and ones against animals in the same manner. Otherwise, it may appear curious that the law aims to give more protection to animals than to humans.