Pet owners beware of draft law for animals

A draft of the country's first law on animal protection has proposed a fine of up to 6,000 yuan ($877) and two weeks detention for those found guilty of animal cruelty.

"The proposal will be submitted to the State Council by the end of the year," Chang Jiwen, director of the social law research department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who authored the draft, told China Daily yesterday.

As part of strict measures to manage and control the animal population in the country, the draft also proposes a prohibition on pet owners from breeding their animals, said Chang.