On 1 September 2008, Switzerland’s new Animal Welfare Ordinance comes into force.
It makes for long reading as a whole, but it is easy to pick out the information you are looking for. Here, for example, is where to find the full text:
Under the “legislation” heading.
- A great many changes in the field of cattle, sheep, goats and horses, which we will not go into in detail here.
- The most frequent changes often concern the size of pens and cages and the minimum number of animals to be kept. As a general rule, anyone who kept animals before this new ordinance came into force has 10 years to bring the size of their enclosures up to the prescribed dimensions. People who look after certain animal species will have to complete training within the next 5 years.
- Details are given in great quantity: on exercise, on housing, on breeding, and so on.
- The cantonal veterinary offices are designated to enforce the new legislation.
Rodents and rabbits
Minimum cage sizes are prescribed. And most rodents must be kept at least in pairs. Exemptions are allowed, however, for instance if an animal dies or is lost. Guidance on their care is also provided.
Ferrets
The ferret sadly remains a wild animal, even though the whole European Union regards it as domestic. The cage dimensions are increased to 4 m². The requirement to keep two individuals is being firmed up (previously it was merely recommended).
Dogs
For dogs, following pressure from the public, a number of things are new.
New dog owners must provide a certificate of competence proving that they have acquired the knowledge needed to keep and handle dogs. A theory exam and a practical test are part of the training. These courses have yet to be set up. People with experience of dogs do not have to meet these conditions. The practical tests, however, remain compulsory for everyone. The courses and the number of hours of practical work are still to be determined and put in place.
Internet
One welcome development is the introduction of information sheets for certain animal species, setting out the ideal conditions in which to keep them. They can be found at:
One may, on the other hand, remain a little doubtful about the many highly detailed measures in the ordinance, which can leave us pondering several questions: for example, how the checks are to be carried out, why certain parameters are imposed, why the ferret’s domestic status is still not recognised, and so on.
Above all, it is for each of us to know our own limits, our responsibilities towards an animal, our sense of duty and our sense of civic-mindedness, so as to respect the animal and its comfort. Asking for information before adopting remains an essential step, in order to prevent excesses and questionable practices as regards an animal’s quality of life.
Everyone will recognise the value of animal welfare, but also the need to respect our fellow human beings, so as to guarantee a harmonious life for all living creatures.