VERY Interesting Swiss Animal Laws
- 3-12-2010
- Categorized in: Pets
In
late 2008, a new animal act passed into law in Switzerland. In
November 2010 the law will finally become enforceable. It is very
interesting reading; learning what Switzerland has done to protect its
animals.
When the Swiss Animal Protection laws become
enforceable in November 2010, the owner of a rabbit, as example, could
be prosecuted for keeping their pet in a hutch that doesn’t meet the
legal criteria. Swiss law states a dwarf rabbit must be kept in a
hutch no smaller than 19 1/2” X 27” with 15 ¾” head space. They must
have a nest box or the ability to dig.
Dog are deemed “social animals”
and must have daily contact with humans and with other dogs. If they
are kept outdoors, they must be chain free for at least five hours a
day and kept in pairs or with other compatible animals. They must be
walked daily according to law. As well, all prospective dog owners
must complete a four-hour “theory” course before buying a dog and then complete another four hour course at a dog school as soon as the dog is theirs.
Swiss Government appointed Animal Advocate attorney Antoine Goetschel states “We have the 'dignity of the animal' recognized in Swiss law.”
The
Swiss laws seem to have fantastic potential don’t they? The mandatory
dog owner training struck me as wonderful (remember, I began my career
in the pet industry some 23 years ago owning a dog boarding and
training facility – training is something near and dear to my heart).
Imagine if unbiased pet food education was part of the mandatory pet
owner training as well!
But, with any legislation, there are twists and turns. Here’s a turn.
“When
Patrick Giger, a 34-year-old angler from the Swiss village of Horgen,
cast his baited line into Lake Zurich's storm-swollen waters on an icy
February morning last year, he could not have forecast the trouble he
would end up reeling in alongside the 22lb pike which was soon to snare
itself on his hook. The day ended with the monster fish being devoured
by Giger and his friends at a local restaurant, but just a few months
later Giger would face, on the instructions of the state prosecutor for
the canton of Zurich, criminal prosecution for causing excessive
suffering to the animal after boasting to a local newspaper that he had
spent around 10 minutes, and exerted considerable physical effort,
landing the fish.”
The fish has become “something of a
poster child for the animal rights movement in Switzerland. It has
even attracted more than 6,000 fans on a Facebook page set up in is
memory.” Giger, the fisherman, was acquitted, but animal advocate
attorney Goetschel is hopeful the judge will clarify in his summary
what time length is acceptable for a fisherman to land a fish.
Some
in Switzerland say the animal rights advocates have gone too far, while
others believe this is the basis of ethical treatment and rights of
animals.
How far is too far with animal rights? Is there a ‘too far’? Who should decide?
Difficult
questions. Certainly in my book, companion animals deserve to have
value by the law. If they did here in the U.S., ChemNutra executives
would be sitting in a prison cell at this moment instead of back in
business importing from China.
To read the full article about
Antoine Goetschel Animal Advocate Attorney in Switzerland (agree with
it or not, it’s very interesting reading), go to: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/mar/05/lawyer-who-defends-animals
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
