The killing of 1 billion birds in China led to a Famine, which resulted in the deaths of 10 million people. After that incident, China learned from its past experiences and made codified and organized legislation related to the protection of animals and anti-cruelty regulations concerning wild creatures. This blog post will explore the laws that protect animals worldwide in 2025, especially in some important countries like the US, UK, India, China, and Pakistan.

Different Laws that Protect Animals Worldwide in 2025:

There are various laws implemented that protect animals from cruelty around the world but the core purpose of all these laws is to safeguard animals from human brutality. Following are the key legislations of some important countries including the US, UK, India, China and Pakistan:

1. Laws that Protect Animals in the US:

General Laws:

a. Animal Welfare Act (AWA):

The Animal Welfare Act of 1966, as amended multiple times, is the primary federal law governing the treatment of animals in transport, exhibition, research, and by dealers. It is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

b. State Anti-Cruelty Laws:

The United States of America is a federation of 50 states in which each state has laws prohibiting animal cruelty, abuse, and brutality. The majority of the States have felony-level punishments for offenders involved in cruelty to animals.

Special Laws:

a. Endangered Species Act (ESA):

The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 with the aim of protecting threatened and endangered species and their habitats. It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA (especially for marine species).

b. Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA):

Livestock to be slaughtered humanely under the statute known as Humane Methods of Slaughter Act (HMSA). It does not apply to poultry. Enforcement of the Act is carried out by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service.

c. Other Special Laws:

The function of other special laws is also the same to protect and safeguard animals from various factors, especially human beings, but the only difference lies in their application to specific animals

• Marine Mammal Protection Act, 1972 (For Whales, Dolphins, Seals)
• Horse Protection Act, 1970 (For Horse)
• The Lacey Act, 1900 (For illegal wildlife, fish and plants)

Enforcement Bodies:

Following are the regulatory bodies for the preservation and protection of animals;

• US Fish and Wildlife Service (ESA, wildlife trafficking)
• USDA (Animal Welfare Act, Slaughter Act)
• Nonprofits organizations like ASPCA and HSUS assist with investigations and advocacy.
• State Departments of Agriculture and Law Enforcement (cruelty cases)

2. Laws that Protect Animals in UK:

General Laws:

a. Animal Welfare Act 2006:

The primary and comprehensive legislation for animal protection in England and Wales is the Animal Welfare Act 2006. It mainly imposes a duty of care on animal keepers and owners to ensure that requirements, such as food, shelter, freedom from pain, and veterinary care. All vertebrate animals, including pets, farm, and working animals are covered under this Act. PPenalties are imposed on violators of this Act.

b. Northern Ireland and Scotland:

Northern Ireland and Scotland also have separate, but similar acts:

• Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
• Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006

Special Laws:

a. Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981:

It protects wild birds, plants and animals. The administration of trapping, hunting, and the trade of protected species is regulated under this act. There, a schedule of protected species are also mentioned.

b. Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976:

It ensures and confirms public safety and proper care for exotic or dangerous animals due to which licensing for private ownership is required.

c. Other Special Laws:

The following is the list given below of other special laws that operated in the UK for the protection of Animals.

• Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986
• Protection of Badgers Act 1992
• Hunting Act 2004

Judicial and Regulatory Oversight:

• RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
• Defra (Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs)
• Courts have the power to issue custodial sentences and animal banning orders.

RELATED: Five Donkeys in the Court

3. Laws that Protect Animals in India:

General Laws:

Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860

Pakistan and India share the same general legal provisions for the protection of animals. The exact wording of Sections 428 and 429 of the IPC 1860 is given below:

Section 428:

Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees:

Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animals or animal of the value of the ten rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Section 429:

Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees:

Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

Special Laws:

a. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960:

The primary purpose of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960 is the welfare of animals and to prevent it from unnecessary pain or suffering. This legislation has authorized the establishment of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). It also prohibits brutality in care, slaughter, confinement, and care.

b. The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972:

It is the law enacted for the protection of wild animals, plants and birds and manages its sanctuaries, hunting, and trade. The classification of animals into schedules are made because of this statute.

c. Other Laws for Preservation of Animals:

The other legislations that operate and regulate the protection of animals are listed below;

• Transport of Animals Rules, 1978
• Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Slaughterhouse) Rules, 2001
• Street Animal and Pet Laws
• Food Safety and Standards Regulations

4. Laws that Protect Animals in China:

General Laws:

a. Criminal Law of the People’s Republic of China:

In the criminal law of China, there is no specific provision related to animal cruelty except in cases involving endangered species. Article 341 of the Criminal Law of China punishes the killing, purchasing, illegal hunting, transportation, and selling of endangered and rare wild animals.

b. Civil Code of the PRC:

In the Civil Code of China (2021), animals are recognized as property, but there is widespread debate among some scholars that this could pave the way for broader legal reforms. There is no standalone, general civil law in China for the protection of all animals against cruelty.

Special Laws:

a. Wildlife Protection Law of the PRC:

The Wildlife Protection Law of China, revised in 2022, is the most comprehensive special law related to wildlife preservation. It safeguards wildlife species classified as rare and regulates their breeding, habitat conservation, hunting, and trade.

b. Animal Epidemic Prevention Law:

This law was amended in 2021 and is enforced to regulate disease control in livestock and pets. According to law, registration, quarantine, and vaccination for animals, especially after outbreaks of avian flu or rabies, is mandatory.

c. Regulations on the Administration of Laboratory Animals:

The regulations on the Administration of Laboratory Animals were last updated in 1988 to set standards for the welfare and ethical treatment of animals used in scientific research.

5. Laws that Protect Animals in Pakistan:

General Laws:

Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) 1860:

Sections 428 and 429 of the Pakistan Penal Code 1860, as amended in 2003, punish individuals who harms animals. The exact wording of the aforementioned sections is given below;

Section 428:

Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees:

Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal or animals of the value of five hundred rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Section 429:

Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc. of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupees:

Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of five thousand rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.

Special Laws:

a. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890:

The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890, is a colonial-era law that is still in force with amendments in various provinces. This law prohibits torturing, overworking, or brutally treating animals .

It also gives authorities the power to impose fines or imprisonment on offenders and empowers them to regulate the treatment of animals in circuses, transportation, etc.

b. Punjab Animals Slaughter Control Act, 1963:

This law regulates slaughterhouses and aims to prevent cruelty in animal slaughter. The same legislation also exists in other provinces, such as the Sindh Animals Slaughter Control Act.

c. Wildlife Protection Laws:

Each province has its own wildlife protection laws, such as the Punjab Wildlife (Protection, Preservation, Conservation, and Management) Act, 1974, which aims to protect and preserve birds and wild animals, regulate hunting, and penalize poaching and illegal trade. The enforcement of these regulations is carried out by the provincial wildlife department.

d. Livestock Laws:

Various provincial Livestock acts and animal health acts govern veterinary care, disease control, and animal transport.

For example, the Punjab Animal Feed Stuff and Compound Feed Act, 2016.

Conclusion:

The World cares about the animals in a way that every country has their own general and special laws for the protection of animals. Not only in the West but also in the Asian side, i.e., India, China and Pakistan also have efficient and effective laws related to the anti-cruelty against animals.