Morton Rochelle, Hebart Michelle L, Whittaker Alexandra L
School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Roseworthy 5371, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2020 Mar 13;10(3):482. doi: 10.3390/ani10030482.
Previous research has identified a number of issues arising at all stages of the animal law enforcement process. These issues contribute to an enforcement gap between the written law, as it relates to the penalties laid out in statutes, and the reality of the animal law justice system. This paper identifies and investigates the contributors to this gap. The identified factors discussed are (1) the role of the public in reporting animal cruelty, (2) the ambiguity of the language used in animal welfare legislation, (3) the nature of enforcement authorities, and (4) the role of the courts. Thus, the causes of the enforcement gap are multifactorial, derived from all stages of the enforcement process. Further research on the enforcement model and public education, in addition to debate on legislative reforms, will be needed to address this gap.
先前的研究已经确定了动物执法过程各个阶段出现的一些问题。这些问题导致了成文法（涉及法规规定的处罚）与动物法律司法系统实际情况之间的执法差距。本文确定并调查了造成这一差距的因素。所讨论的已确定因素包括：（1）公众在举报动物虐待行为中的作用；（2）动物福利立法中使用的语言的模糊性；（3）执法当局的性质；（4）法院的作用。因此，执法差距的成因是多方面的，源自执法过程的各个阶段。要解决这一差距，除了就立法改革展开辩论外，还需要对执法模式和公众教育进行进一步研究。
