The law prohibits cruelty against vertebrates such as cattle, horses, pigs, dogs, cats, rabbits, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep, deer, foxes, and mink, but excluding fish, crustaceans, and other animals commonly used by humans. Cruelty includes killing an animal by a cruel method or in public or in the presence of an animal of the same species; injuring an animal with a "tool or drug"; collecting fluid from the body of a live animal; injuring an animal for entertainment; or otherwise injury without grounds approved by the Ordinance of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries. The law exempts acts done for the prevention or treatment of disease, experimentation or "folk games".
