過去半年來，協會調查部門接獲越來越多關於「貓咪非法繁殖買賣」的案件。而民眾的訴求大多為：「寵物店沒有執照怎麼可以進行賣貓，應盡快依法取締。」但很遺憾的是，這些案件最大的問題點在於，貓咪的繁殖、買賣，目前並沒有任何法律規範。
儘管在動物保護法的第二十二條中，已表明：「以營利為目的，經營特定寵物之繁殖、買賣或寄養業者，應先向直轄市、縣（市）主管機關申請許可，並依法領得營業證照，始得為之。」但此處卻將「寵物」前冠上了「特定」兩字。同時，此法條也接著表示：「特定寵物之種類、繁殖‧‧‧等等及其他應遵行事項之辦法，由主管機關定之。」民國98年，行政院農委會針對此條文，發布了「特定寵物業管理辦法」，而此辦法的第二條中，便開宗明義地表示，本辦法只適用於「犬」。
非常不幸的，從民國98年至今，貓咪、兔子、天竺鼠等，台灣目前常見的寵物的繁殖、買賣，皆無受到動物保護法以及特定寵物業管理辦法中的任何保障。儘管繁殖、買賣無法可管，因此也並沒有所謂的「非法繁殖買賣」行為，但根據現有的動物保護法，仍保障貓咪的基本動物福利。店家依法仍必須提供貓咪妥善的照顧，不可騷擾、虐待、傷害，並必要時需提供醫療‧‧‧等飼主責任。
因此，若您看到民眾或店家繁殖、買賣貓咪時，您仍然可向本協會舉報。而為了案件能順利進行，以下也詳加說明調查部門需要的資訊。
1.店家詳細的地址。(若為網路賣家則須提供網址，並記得將個人資訊截圖備份)
2.貓咪是否精神健康外觀有異？─若有異常，則必須依法就醫檢查、治療。
3.是否有提供適當乾淨的食物和水依法應？─給予適當、健康的食物，並隨時提供乾淨的清水。
4.環境是否清潔、是否有大量排泄物、毛髮、食物殘渣？─依法應定期清理環境，以維持貓咪和環境的乾淨、整潔。
5.生活空間是否充足？─貓咪應可於籠內自由的上下跳躍、轉身、站立，在做這些自然動作時，身體的任何部位也不應碰觸到籠子。
6.貓咪數量是否造成過度擁擠？─每隻貓咪除了要有上述的足夠空間外，也應有不受其他貓咪干擾的獨立空間。
以上資訊，也請報案民眾盡可能地提供照片、影片，若為網頁圖文，也記得將網址連同備份截圖一併提供。若證據越完整、清楚，也更能以此為憑據，要求店家盡速改善動物福利狀況，即使繁殖買賣目前無法規範，但貓咪的基本福利仍是業者必須遵守的法律。(在蒐集證據並了解狀況後，則將會視情況輕重，由協會調查專員勸導改善或者報請政府主管機關介入依法處理)
但協會也了解，若要徹底改善此現象，仍需要有一套法律來將母貓的繁殖次數、生產年齡、產後安置‧‧‧等做清楚詳細的規範。這些年以來，TSPCA及其他許多動保團體也一直強烈要求農委會，應盡快將貓咪或其他常見寵物納入「特定寵物業管理辦法」之中。而在2014年8月份的一次會議之中，行政院主委也決議認為農委會應先盡快將貓的繁殖管理納入規範。後續進展如何，仍需全民來一起進行監督。
Over the past half a year, the Taiwan SPCA investigation department has come upon ever-increasing reports of illegal cat breeding and trade. Those reporting the cases often state: “The pet store does not have a license, how can they sell cats? They should be immediately banned from selling animals!” However, it is unfortunate that the most alarming issue with regards to these occurrences is that there are not any laws or acts that govern cat breeding and trade.
Although it is clearly stated in the Animal Protection Act, Article 22, that “Any person who operates the pet breeding, trading or fostering industry of specific pets for profits shall apply for a license to the municipal or county (city) competent authority and obtain the business license pursuant to applicable laws before such operation.” the clause refers to a “specific pets”. The clause also states that the species of pet and all the other rules for the breeders to follow are to be defined by government agencies. In 2009, the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan put forth the “Enforcement Rules for the Pet Industry” to define this clause, and in this announcement, it is clear that the clause is only applicable to dogs.
It is therefore unfortunate that since the year 2009, there has been no animal protection act or specific pet business rules to protect cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, or other animals commonly bred and traded. As there is no law to govern breeding and trade, there is no such thing as “illegal breeding and trade”. However, according to the current animal protection act, a cat still has basic animal rights. Pet stores have the responsibility to offer cats suitable care, and cannot harass, abuse, hurt them, and need to offer them medical care when it is required.
Therefore, if you see members of the public or shops breeding and/or selling cats, you can still report it to the Taiwan SPCA. In order to facilitate the investigation, the following information should be included in the report:
- The full address of the shop. (If an Internet vendor is involved, the website address is required, and please ensure that you save a screenshot with the vendor's personal information.)
- Whether the cat's condition seems to be abnormal in any way (physically or emotionally). If so, medical inspection and care are required by law.
- Whether clean food and water is properly offered. By law, appropriate and healthy food and clean water should be available at all times.
- Whether the environment is clean. Is there a large amount of excrement, fur or leftover food? By law, it is required to clean the environment the animal is being kept in from time to time to maintain a sanitary and tidy space for said animal.
- Whether the place is spacious. Cats should be able to perform natural behaviors such as freely jumping, turning, and standing without any part of their body touching the cage.
- Whether the number of cats leads to crowding. Each cat should have sufficient space as previously stated, and should have individual space for time undisturbed by other cats.
Besides the above information, please offer photos or video if possible. If the information comes from a website, please provide a screenshot. The more evidence provided, the better the chance of requiring a shop to promptly improve the animal’s welfare. Although there are no regulations to govern breeding and trading, a cat's basic welfare is still covered by laws, which stores need to follow. (After gathering evidence and investigating a case, we will determine the seriousness of the occurrence and whether to send our investigator to exhort the shop or report the case to local government and ask for them to take legal action.
We do understand that the only way to completely resolve this issue is to establish detailed laws regulating matters such as how many times a female cat can breed, the age of breeding, and postnatal care. In recent years, TSPCA and other animal protection associations have strongly urged the Council of Agriculture to include cats and other common pets under “Management Rules for Specific Pet Business”. In the last meeting held in August, 2014, the chairman of the Executive Yuan also decreed that the Council of Agriculture should incorporate cat breeding into the rules as soon as possible. It is up to citizens to ensure that further progress is made.
最後，身為關心動物福利的您還可以做什麼呢?
1.您可以透過行政院農委會的首長信箱，要求盡速將貓咪及其他常見寵物納入特定寵物業管理辦法之中。
http://chiefsuit.coa.gov.tw:8080/ChiefMail/jsp/mainPeople.jsp
2.向您選區的縣市長候選人表達：「貓咪及其他常見寵物應盡速納入特定寵物業管理辦法之中」的訴求，並要求將此納入動保政見之中。
3.協助宣導「以領養代替購買」的理念。
Being an animal lover, what else can you do?
- You can send a letter to the chief of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, and ask him to ensure cats and other common pets are included in the purview of “Management Rules for Specific Pet Business”. http://chiefsuit.coa.gov.tw:8080/ChiefMail/jsp/mainPeople.jsp
- Express your strong support for bringing cat and other common pets under the purview of “Enforcement Rules for The Pet Industry” to your mayoral candidates, and ask them to incorporate this into their political platform.
- Help further by supporting the “Don't Shop, Only Adopt” philosophy.
法律小知識
動物保護法第二十二條第二項
前項特定寵物之種類、繁殖場、買賣或寄養業者應具備之條件、設施、專任人員、申請許可之程序、期限與換證、撤銷或廢止許可之條件、寵物繁殖作業及其他應遵行事項之辦法，由中央主管機關定之。
特定寵物業管理辦法
第一條 本辦法依動物保護法第二十二條第二項規定訂定之。
第二條 本辦法適用之寵物種類為犬。
