Macau has virtually no laws that protect animals from abuse and no laws that punish those who commit it. Although several recent incidents have stirred public outcry, including a dog who had his genitals cut off, and a golden retriever who was found with an eye brow cut off, the issue was highlighted again in January, when a video was released by the Society for the Protection of Animals, showing a man beating a dog with a metal bar. The man was quickly released by authorities, only to return to the dog's guardians, threatening to kill the dog.

The current regulations in Macau that involve animal protection are dated from 1954 and 1996. Punishment for publicly harming animals are minimal, consisting of meager fines. An animal rights protection bill was drafted in 2008 that would, for example, forbid cruelty to animals, abandoning pets, and animal fight activities, setting a maximum fine of MOP 100,000. The proposal has been delayed for almost three years and seems to have been shelved, leaving animals totally unprotected from abuse.

Photo credit: Macau Daily Times