Mother and Daughter Prosecuted for Abandoning Cat That Died Days Later

A mother and daughter in Tainan, Taiwan, face legal consequences after abandoning their pet cat, which subsequently died two days later. The pair, identified by their surnames Lin and Xu, were found to have left the microchipped feline in an open area near a church in Zuozhen District on June 22, 2025.

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I thought that if I abandoned the cat in this place, someone would feed it, but I didn't know about the situation of feeding stray cats there.

The Tainan District Court found the mother and daughter guilty of violating the Animal Protection Act. The court ruled that their act of abandoning the pet resulted in the loss of vital organs and ultimately its death. The judge criticized their actions as unacceptable, emphasizing that pet owners are legally obligated to surrender animals to designated government facilities or animal shelters rather than abandoning them in the wild.

Each woman received a three-month prison sentence, which can be commuted to a fine, along with a NT$200,000 (approximately $6,100 USD) penalty. They were granted a two-year suspended sentence, during which they must undergo probation and attend two legal education sessions. Additionally, they are required to pay NT$60,000 (approximately $1,800 USD) to the public treasury within one year of the verdict.

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The mother and daughter abandoned the pet cat arbitrarily in the suburbs, causing the cat to lose vital organs and die. This has violated the provisions of the Animal Protection Act.

The mother reportedly stated that she believed someone would feed the cat if it were left in that location, without considering its ability to survive independently in the wild. The court considered their admission of guilt and apparent remorse in granting the suspended sentence, warning that any serious violation of the terms could lead to the revocation of the suspension.

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The mother and daughter's act of abandoning pets is truly unacceptable. Considering that they confessed their guilt and showed remorse, they were each sentenced to three months in prison, which can be commuted to a fine.