Abstract:A common criticism of China’s legal system of animal protection is that it does little to control cruelty to animals. However, this argument doesn’t stand nowadays. At least, China’s current Constitution provides a legal basis for anti-cruelty; laws also contain broad spirit of anti-cruelty, both inherently and directly. There are also specific anti-cruelty rules interspersed in laws, regulations and national standards. Some explicitly combat cruelty while some, though not frank enough, provide substantial protection. It has become a prominent trend of both China’s legislation and law enforcement that the protection scope of animals is expanding. Guided by the pursuit of “ecological civilization” and the principle of “harmonious coexistence between man and nature”, though probably with no “anti-cruelty to animals law” in the near future, if improved properly and executed strictly, current laws could effectively reduce cruelty to animals.