Globally, pets are no longer just companions in people's lives, they are more like family members. With the growing number of pet owners, various countries have enacted relevant pet legislation. These laws have their own characteristics and show the wisdom of caring for and managing pets from different angles.
Germany: Strict regulations to protect pet welfare
Germany has an extremely rigorous and detailed legal system for pet protection. Its "Animal Protection Law" imposes severe penalties on abuse of dogs, with a maximum sentence of 3 years in prison and a fine of up to 25,000 euros. The law stipulates that breeders must implant a chip in their pet dogs when they are 3 months old, and submit the chip number to the relevant agency for registration to facilitate management and finding lost dogs.
The United States: Classified management, severe punishment for abuse
The United States has a relatively complete animal protection legal system, and has enacted the "Anti-Animal Abuse Act" and the "Animal Welfare Act". Taking Florida as an example, animal abuse is a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine; if the abuse causes death or serious injury to an animal, the offender will face a third-degree felony charge, punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine. The United States also has special animal police and animal protection departments to ensure that pets and other animals are protected from abuse and harm.
United Kingdom: Comprehensive regulations, focus on animal welfare
The United Kingdom is also quite comprehensive in pet legislation. The Animal Welfare Act, introduced in 2006, is an important cornerstone of its animal rights legislation. The "Lucy's Law" introduced in 2020 prohibits third-party dealers from selling pet dogs and cats, and increases the maximum sentence for animal abuse from six months to five years, which strikes at the source against bad breeding and sales practices and protects the rights and interests of pet dogs and cats.
China is also making continuous progress in pet legislation. The Animal Epidemic Prevention Law of the People's Republic of China, implemented in 2021, stipulates that dogs should be wearing dog tags and leashes when taking them out of the house, and dogs should be vaccinated against rabies regularly. The newly revised "Public Security Administration Punishment Law" will be implemented from January 2026, adding new penalties for illegal sale and breeding of dangerous animals such as fierce dogs. Many targeted regulations have also been issued in various places. For example, Changsha has enacted legislation to prohibit the abuse and abandonment of cats and dogs. In addition to fines, violators will also have their pet-keeping licenses revoked and will not be allowed to keep pets for 5 years.
Although pet legislation in various countries is different, they all reflect the importance of pet rights and the maintenance of public order. It also allows us to see the efforts of humans to continuously explore the road to harmonious coexistence with pets.
Written by：Luna
2025.07.16
