ANIMA vows for improvements on Animal Protection Bill

The Society for the Protection of Animals (ANIMA Macau) has called on the Legislative Assembly to improve the draft of the Animal Protection Bill, approved by lawmakers in the first reading at the Legislative Assembly plenary on Friday.
ANIMA Macau believes that the draft is merely a replica of a draft dating back to 2008, which was never tabled.
In a document submitted to the AL last week, the association advocates for clearer definitions of the law, namely the definition of animal abuse. ANIMA’s chief, Mr Albano Martins, told the Times that there are several “subjective definitions included in this law, especially the one referring to animal abuse, which are not clear enough.”
Furthermore, they believe there is a need to include a definition of animal cruelty, focusing on two particular forms: passive and active cruelty.
ANIMA believes that the legislation document provides a good start, but it should be improved before lawmakers vote it in detail, on a second reading.
The licensing and vaccination of cats is another matter they’ve highlighted. Albano Martins recalled that there are more cats than dogs in Macau, and that they should also be vaccinated for the sake of public health. They are suggesting the government provide free licensing for cats, in order to prevent “their massive abandonment.”
Another problem the bill presents, he said, is related to the definition of animal abandonment, since dropping off animals in a kennel or animal collection centers will not be considered abandonment. “So if people are clever they will not abandon their pets in the streets, they will instead drop them off at the kennel. So instead of having to put down 900 animals, they will have to kill 3,000,” he said. “The law should only allow this to happen within a maximum period of three months, for instance, after purchasing or adopting the animal,” ANIMA said in a document addressed to the AL.
ANIMA also recognizes that, unlike the 2008 draft, the bill now poses a serious issue regarding scientific experiments involving animals. Albano Martins recalled that article 19 allows the use of animals for scientific experiments, but it may also involve apes as well as mice. ANIMA’s director recalled that Macau does not have labs that work with such animals. Even the new laboratory under development at the University of Macau, whose ethics committee also comprises ANIMA, has said it will not use this type of animal, Albano Martins stressed.
“Animals can be cut, organs removed, even admitting the occurrence of suffering, in which case it calls for the animal to be put down. This is called animal cruelty,” ANIMA said.
In the document, ANIMA also addresses the issue of greyhounds and horses that compete in Macau’s Canidrome and the Jockey Club, respectively. The association recalls that at least the Canidrome is located on public land – land that “should be used for green areas, gardens, underground car parks or for public housing.” They also stressed that the Canidrome’s revenue has declined, and they do not even actively promote adoptions. Also, the rate of accidents on the racetrack is the largest in the world, they added.
With the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel  under development close to the Jockey Club and an urban project also being developed near the Canidrome, located in the Macau peninsula, Albano Martins believes this is an opportunity for the government to advocate for the use of these properties for other purposes.
ANIMA stressed that there’s still a need for an integrated legal framework that not only addresses animal protection, but also regulates veterinaries, pet shops, clinics, and animal breeders.