本文以探討我國動物保護法中,將動物虐待及殺害行為入罪化為討論主軸,法益保護為刑法處罰之原則,無法益侵害即無動用刑罰的理由,然而,動物保護 法第六章罰則規範中,直接將使動物受傷、重傷或死亡的行為,處以 1 年以下有 期徒刑,就此,造成動物傷亡之行為,侵害之客體為動物,然而動物在我國法領域中,並不屬於一有權利義務之主體,於刑法中,僅稱得上是毀損罪,且此亦以 該動物為他人所有為前提。 隨著同伴動物在台灣社會中地位之提升,我們越來越重視對待動物的方式及關心牠們的痛苦,雖不要求不去利用動物,但應以人道方式為之,每每遇有虐殺 動物的新聞,都能很明顯的感受社會的動盪,而引發正反意見之爭論:關懷被虐 殺之動物,自身卻也吃著牠們的肉。 因此,為求得虐待、殺害動物保護法益之內涵,本文首先欲探討之主體依序 為:一、動物在法律上之定位:首先必須釐清法領域中,動物應置於何種角色定 位。二、法益的內涵為何?我國動物保護法罰則之立法過程與我國實務所認定之保護法益為何?三、參考日本與德國相關之動物保護法律,其對於保護法益之解 釋,便俾本文做出結論。四、對目前我國動物保護法規定之批評與檢討。 最後,呼應本文主題「我國動物保護法中虐待動物罪之保護法益」,本文認為將其解釋為人類之情感,該情感係具有法益之內涵,不但符合刑法以保護法益 為中心,且亦能謹守法律以人為本之宗旨。
The thesis is to discuss the criminalisation of animal abuse and killing as a main point in Animal Protection Act of Taiwan. The protection of legal interests is the rule of punishment in criminal law. Without the infringement of legal interests, there would be no reason to take penalties. However in Penalty Section (Chapter VI) of Animal Protection Act, a jail term under one year will be imposed for direct hurt, injury or death of an animal. Animals are the object of torts that being violated, but they are not the part of the subject of rights and duties in legal domain of Taiwan. This condition in criminal law might result in offense of damage of property. Meanwhile, the pre-condition is that animals are what he/she belongs with. With the growth of social status for companion animals (i.e. pets) in Taiwan, we are getting more and more conscious of the treatment and caring for them. Human beings should be humanitarian to animals though people might be required to take advantage of them. As animal abuse is reported in the news, the society would be obviously in turmoil and mired in controversy. The Society seems to have mercy on killed animals, yet they are rarely protected in reality. To acquire the legal interest of animal maltreatment, the article will discuss: 1) The legal status of animals: To clarify the role of animals in the legal domain. 2) The contents of legal interests: What is the definition between the legislative process of Penalty in Animal Protection Act and in practice? 3) To refer to the legislation on animal protection in Japan and Germany, the paper is concluded according to the explanation of legal interests. 4) The criticism and discussion towards the regulation on animal protection in Taiwan. In the end, based on ‘the Legal Interests of Animal Abuse in Animal Protection Act of Taiwan’, the thesis sets human emotion as an explanation. The emotion, which contains legal interests, is not only the centre of that protection in criminal law, but the purpose of legal compliance towards humanitarianism.