Activists Call for Independent Animal Protection Agency

[The Messy Business of Regulating Atrocities]

Activists call for independent animal protection agency

Animal rights activists on Wednesday called for an independent agency dedicated to animal protection, saying that placing animal protection and livestock under the same agency creates a conflict due to the nature of the jobs.

Chu Tien-hsin, a celebrated local writer and organizer of the appeal, said having one agency managing both animal protection and livestock is like having one ministry in charge of both economic affairs and labor affairs.

Livestock is raised for sale and eventual slaughter while animals should be protected, Chu told a press conference in front of the Legislative Yuan, adding that this is a contradiction in terms of job responsibilities.

Currently, the Council of Agriculture (COA) is in charge of animal protection, as well as livestock, fishery and forestry issues.

Under the draft organic act for upgrading the COA to the Ministry of Agriculture, a department will be established to take care of livestock industry and animal protection at the same time.

The activists called for an independent animal protection agency under the Agriculture Ministry with enough resources and funds to properly protect the rights of animals.

"Without a specialized agency dedicated to animals, it would be impossible to fully conduct animal protection work," the group said.

[Carolyn Bailey]

Chu Tien-hsin, who seems to be represented as an "animal rights activist" seems to claim:

""Livestock is raised for sale and eventual slaughter while animals should be protected", Chu told a press conference in front of the Legislative Yuan"

"Livestock" are not animals? Perhaps I am missing something, but this seems to be an odd position for an "animal rights activist" to take. 

[red dog]

I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. He seems to be suggesting that the business of using animals as "livestock" (and raising them for slaughter) is at odds with the goal of protecting animals from abuse by humans, so the same agency shouldn't be in charge of both. He has a point.

[Mo Orr]

Creating a divide between 'livestock' and 'animals' feels wrong.  Then we have human animals, non human animals, and livestock.  How would you finish the sentence: animals are individuals and livestock is ? Even livestock as singular takes away their individuality.