動物虐待摘発、最多１０５件　「市民の通報増」―警察庁

　全国の警察が昨年１年間に動物愛護法違反で摘発した動物虐待の事件数が、前年より２１件増の１０５件で最多を更新したことが２６日、警察庁のまとめで分かった。
　検挙人数は１２６人で前年比３２人増。同庁の担当者は「インターネット交流サイト（ＳＮＳ）に投稿された虐待動画を見るなどした一般市民の通報が増えている」と説明した。
　虐待された動物の内訳は猫が最多で６６件。犬が２７件で、ほかにウサギや馬、ヤギ、フェレットなどがあった。
　事件内容は動物を捨てる遺棄が４９件と最も多く、餌をやらなかったり不衛生な環境で飼育したりするなどの虐待が３６件、殺傷する行為が２０件だった。昨年７月には、飼っていたインコを放り投げたなどとして、無職の男が愛知県警に逮捕された。
　動物愛護法は昨年６月に改正され、動物を殺傷する行為の罰則が５年以下の懲役または５００万円以下の罰金に引き上げられるなど虐待は厳罰化された。（2020/03/26-10:20）

The number of animal abuse cases recognized and revealed by police across Japan in 2019 rose by 21 from the previous year to a record 105, the National Police Agency said Thursday.
   In the animal protection law violation cases, actions, including arrest, were taken on 126 people, up by 32.
   "There has been an increase in the number of animal abuse reports from members of the public who watched on social media videos showing animals being mistreated," an NPA official said.
   Of the total, 66 cases involved abuse against cats and 27 against dogs. Other abused animals included a rabbit, a horse, a goat and a ferret. Animals were abandoned in 49 cases, were not properly fed or not raised in healthy conditions in 36 cases, and killed or injured in 20 cases.
   In July last year, a jobless man was arrested by the police department of Aichi Prefecture, central Japan, for his alleged abuse against his pet parakeet, including throwing it. An online video showing the abuse, which was posted by the man himself, was watched by a number of people, leading to his arrest.