Taiwan Lawmakers Ban Selling of Dog Meat

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP)--Taiwan's lawmakers have banned the selling of dog meat and have introduced heavy fines for killing pets for food or fur.

The new measure strengthened an existing ban on the slaughtering of pets for use of their meat and skin.

Animal rights activists had protested that the original ban had not stopped the killing of the animals, and that a ban on trading was necessary to give the law more teeth.

When they passed the law on Tuesday, legislators also introduced tougher fines for offenders.

The new animal protection law included fines ranging from $1,500 to $7,300.

The fines also were applicable to those illegally killing pets. In the original version of the law, the fines were limited to a range from $58 to $300.

AP-NY-12-18-03 0616EST

Copyright 2003, The Associated Press.

TELECOMWORLDWIRE-12 August 2002-Online Korean dog meat stew sales banned (C)1994-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com

Korean officials have banned a restaurant in Seoul from selling dog meat stew over the Internet.

The restaurant was selling 170 packets a day of the 'boshintang' stew on the web site, and 200 restaurant owners have signed a petition against the ban.

Selling dog meat has been illegal in Korea since 1988.