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Animal welfare efforts on the field typically bring rapid changes to the lives of countless directly affected animals. However, to improve the living conditions of animals in the long term, it is essential to address the existing regulatory framework. This requires precise knowledge of the legal and political possibilities. Achieving this necessitates long-term goals and significant time, as the wheels of legislation grind very slowly.
The enjoyment of a few people must not be allowed to compromise the quality of life for everyone else. Firecrackers cause stress for people who are sensitive to noise or who wish to spend a relaxing evening outdoors. They cause panic amongst young children, pets, wildlife and farm animals, and lead to sleepless nights. On dry summer days, uncontrolled fireworks endanger flora and fauna – fires pose a major risk. On National Day, thousands of Swiss people prefer to spend the day abroad, where there are no fireworks, or barricade themselves in cellars and stables with their animals, rather than celebrating 1 August together with neighbours and family. Fireworks enthusiasts do not limit their celebrations to 1 August and 31 December. The federal popular initiative ‘For a restriction on fireworks’ aims to protect people, animals and the environment. After all, setting off fireworks is not a fundamental right of personal freedom and enjoys no legal protection whatsoever.
Many local authorities have now introduced a ban on private fireworks. It is time for a nationwide solution to tackle the noise caused by fireworks for the sake of people, animals and the environment. We therefore urge all eligible voters to go to the polls on 29 November and help secure a victory for the fireworks initiative.
The demands:
With self-sufficiency at just 42 per cent, Swiss agriculture cannot guarantee food supplies for the population if imports are cut off, whether due to wars, trade conflicts or extreme weather conditions. This low level of self-sufficiency shows that Swiss agriculture is in no way prepared to feed the population from its own production in times of crisis and shortages, as required by Article 102 of the Federal Constitution (National Supply).
For this and other reasons, we recommend that the initiative be accepted.
Animals should be able to go outside, move about and explore their surroundings. The Outdoor Access Initiative aims to make precisely this a binding standard: all farm animals should have regular access to the outdoors. This improves animal welfare — and makes a reality what many in Switzerland take for granted.
The initiative focuses on jointly developed solutions. It leaves the specific details to Parliament, but demands that the principle be upheld: outdoor access for all — feasible, fair and binding. Here you can find out exactly what the text of the initiative says and how the political process works.
NetAP supports the initiative and is counting on your support. Signatures will be collected from around February 2026.
Enforcing compliance with existing laws can only be done by those who understand the legal framework. Similarly, changing a law can only be accomplished by those who engage with the political landscape and find ways to advocate for new demands.
It is a misconception to think that one is doing good for animals solely by adhering to existing animal welfare laws. It must be remembered: an animal welfare law merely establishes the boundary set by lawmakers for punishable animal cruelty, indicating when a society believes that the threshold of acceptable suffering and pain for animals has definitely been exceeded. Animal welfare laws do not describe what constitutes appropriate animal keeping, transportation, or handling. Those who only comply with animal welfare laws are, at best, simply not committing a crime according to current standards. However, this does not mean that the animals are necessarily well-treated!
It’s bad enough that existing laws are regularly broken and enforcement is negligent or nonexistent.
NetAP is not only committed to the correct enforcement of existing laws but also to their improvement.
It is the responsibility of lawmakers to protect animals to the best of their ability through the existing legal framework. Authorities must verify compliance with the law and ensure its enforcement. Immediate action must be taken in the event of legal violations, and enforcement must be carried out with necessary severity. There is a significant need for action in all countries, both in enforcement and legislation. Therefore, we collaborate with authorities and politicians who support our concerns, both in Switzerland and internationally.
We always work on behalf of the animals and also address the legal and political possibilities, even though this often entails long-term and arduous work.
he federal popular initiative ‘For food security – through strengthening sustainable domestic production, more plant-based foods and clean drinking water’ was formally launched on 24 September 2024 with 112,736 signatures.
You can find more information about the initiative here: www.initiative-fuer-eine-sichere-ernaehrung.ch
Nature is the basis of our existence. We need biodiversity to survive. After all, a diverse natural environment ensures clean water, fertile soil, pollination of plants and healthy food. And intact nature with beautiful landscapes is part of our homeland. Biodiversity in Switzerland is in a bad way. Today, around half of our natural habitats are under threat. More than a third of our animal and plant species are endangered or already extinct. This is alarming and affects us humans directly. One example: without bees, butterflies etc. there would be no pollination, and without pollination there would be no food such as berries, fruit and vegetables. That is why we are in favour of this initiative.
On 22 September 2024, the Swiss electorate voted on the popular initiative ‘For the future of our nature and landscape (biodiversity initiative)’. Only 36.96% voted in favour.
Wearing fur is unnecessary and cruel. The breeding and killing methods clearly violate Swiss animal welfare legislation and are therefore regarded as cruelty to animals and punishable by law. Nevertheless, they are used on hundreds of millions of animals abroad every year simply to produce fur. The fact that the import of fur and fur products from cruel animal husbandry is still permitted in Switzerland is absolutely incomprehensible. On 13 December 2021, the National Council approved a motion by Matthias Aebischer (SP/BE) by 144 votes to 31. Aebischer’s motion demanded that the Federal Council issue an import ban on fur products produced in a cruel manner. The Council of States, however, showed no heart and rejected the motion on 30 May 2022. In order to stop this cruel import, this issue must go before the people. For this reason, we actively supported the ‘Stop fur’ initiative. It came about with 113,474 valid signatures, as the federal government announced on 20 February 2020.
The fattening and production of foie gras has been banned in Switzerland for over 40 years, but the import of these cruelly produced products is still permitted. Foie gras subjects ducks and geese to massive suffering. With 200,000 kg of goose liver imported annually, Switzerland is one of the main importers. Every year, 400,000 ducks and 12,000 geese are killed for the Swiss market alone. It is unacceptable that Swiss producers are banned from producing foie gras under threat of punishment, but that it can be produced and imported by foreign producers. This is why NetAP actively supported the initiative in favour of an import ban on foie gras. It came to fruition with 102,478 valid signatures, as announced by the Confederation on 20.02.24.
Initial situation: The joy of a few people must not affect the quality of life of everyone else. Hardly a beautiful summer evening goes by without fireworks going off from near and far. Family celebrations such as birthdays and weddings are celebrated with private fireworks, as are national holidays and village festivals. Firecrackers cause stress for people who are sensitive to noise or want to spend a relaxing evening outdoors. They panic small children, pets, wild animals and farm animals and cause sleepless nights. On dry summer days, uncontrolled fireworks endanger flora and fauna – fires are a risk. Thousands of Swiss people prefer to go abroad without fireworks on the bank holidays or barricade themselves and their animals in cellars and stables instead of celebrating the first of August with neighbours and family. Fireworks fans don’t stick to 1 August and 31 December. In recent years, the nuisance caused by loud, often uncontrolled fireworks displays has increased to up to 30 evenings a year, depending on where you live. The federal popular initiative ‘In favour of restricting fireworks’ aims to protect people, animals and the environment. Fireworks are not a fundamental right of personal freedom and do not enjoy any legal protection.
For these reasons, NetAP actively supports the federal initiative in favour of restricting fireworks (fireworks initiative)
Result: The federal popular initiative ‘For a restriction on fireworks’ submitted on 3 November 2023 has been formally approved. Examination of the signature lists by the Federal Chancellery has revealed that 137,193 of the 138,237 signatures submitted are valid.
We keep hearing that there is no factory farming in Switzerland.At the same time, reference is constantly made to the supposedly best animal protection law, which can only be as good as it is consistently enforced. The reality is therefore very different. The law and the lack of enforcement clearly reflect the balance of power: it is a law of the people to protect the interests of the people and not the animals. Animals cannot defend their interests themselves (unlike women, for example, who have the right to vote).
Judge for yourself whether the following two examples are appropriate for animals and species. You don’t need any specialist knowledge to do this:
And what do you think of the following?
Hardly any space, no exercise, hardly any opportunities to keep busy. This is the sad everyday life of animals used for food production in Switzerland. It’s not about life, it’s not about alleged animal welfare or the protection of animal dignity. It is merely about maximising production volumes, margins and yields. The animals are adapted to economic production. But if we want to talk about animal welfare, it should be the other way round!
In 2020 alone, around 80 million animals were slaughtered in Switzerland. Most of them didn’t have a good life beforehand. Isn’t it time to finally change that?
This is what the initiative demands:
And farmers are granted a transitional period of 25 years!
With our YES vote on 25 September 2022, we are saying YES to change. So that we can once again be proud of our animal welfare in Switzerland. Even though we would like to see a world without animal use, we are happy for every step in the right direction. If the initiative were to be rejected, this would mean that the status quo would be cemented and we would continue to be led to believe that everything is fine in Swiss stables.
Say YES to the initiative against factory farming on 25 September 2022
More information about the initiative and how you can become active yourself.
With these measures, the initiators want to ensure the quality of Swiss drinking water in the long term. NetAP supports these demands and hopes for a Yes vote at the ballot box in June 2021.
More about the initiative: Drinking water initiative
On 13 June 2021, we will vote on the two agricultural initiatives (www.initiative-sauberes-trinkwasser.ch; www.lebenstattgift.ch). Both initiatives set an important example for nature and animals and therefore also for people.
Numerous animal welfare organisations have formed a committee to actively support the two concerns and explained in a press release why the adoption of the demands is particularly important for animal welfare.
Unfortunately, the cantons will still not be obliged to appoint an animal welfare advocate in the future. Only 29.5 per cent of voters said yes to the animal welfare advocate initiative (with a turnout of around 45%). The initiative was not accepted in any of the cantons.
Cruelty to animals is not a trivial offence, but is far too often treated as such. The animal welfare advocate could have remedied this situation. Many reasons were given by opponents for the rejection: Additional costs, fear of unnecessary charges, federalism, equality of animals with humans, etc. Unfortunately, a major lack of information, lack of interest and misinformation also contributed to the devastating result.
Despite this regrettable result for animal welfare, one thing is clear: Switzerland does have an animal welfare law, but there is an urgent need for improvements in its enforcement. Federal President Doris Leuthard has promised that the new Animal Protection Act will make an animal protection lawyer superfluous and that tools for better enforcement will be created in the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The opponents won this vote primarily by arguing that the new Animal Welfare Act was materially sufficient and that the cantons did not want the federal government to interfere in its implementation. It is now up to the cantons to prove that they really do not need an animal welfare advocate in order to correctly implement the new Animal Welfare Act, which came into force almost two years ago. A delay is not provided for by law and increased education and prevention, as repeatedly cited by Doris Leuthard as a counter-argument to the animal welfare advocate, is not sufficient and does not exempt from the required enforcement of the law.
Animal welfare organisations are now required in particular to point out to the cantonal authorities if they are not or not sufficiently fulfilling their mandate to enforce the Animal Welfare Act.
The date of the vote on 7 March 2010 on the animal welfare advocate initiative is drawing ever closer. Opinions differ widely.
It is very important that every animal lover and every animal rights activist actually votes, whether by post or at the ballot box! Every animal lover and animal rights activist must now exercise their right to vote and cast a Yes vote.
Vote, otherwise we will be outvoted by the animal protection opponents on 7 March and everything will remain the same for the tortured animals; that must not happen!
Please ask your club members, business partners, work colleagues, friends and acquaintances to take part in the vote and cast a convincing Yes vote. Take five minutes a day and call, email or text colleagues or post it on facebook, because every vote counts now!
The animals need your YES now. Switzerland has good animal welfare legislation. However, in many places the regulations are not enforced or monitored and animal abusers are usually acquitted or receive only small fines, if any at all. This is why we need an animal welfare advocate. They keep an eye on the authorities and represent the rights of animals. They ensure that animal cruelty is punished appropriately. In this way, potential animal abusers can be deterred, because those who do not have to fear punishment will never play by the rules. Please vote YES for the Animal Welfare Ombudsman on 7 March!
Initial situation: In October 2019, together with Pro Natura, Birdlife Switzerland, WWF Switzerland, Wolf Switzerland and many other organisations, we launched a referendum against the misguided Hunting Act. Within 100 days, 50,000 valid signatures had to be collected to protect beavers, lynx and co. The collection was successful and the Hunting Act was put to the people on 27 September 2020. Fortunately, they said NO to the misguided hunting law!
Result:
The following cantons say NO: SO, BS, BL, SH, NE, GE, VD, JU, AG, BE, ZH
The following cantons say YES: LU, UR, SZ, OW, NW, GL, ZG, FR, AR, AI, SG, GR, TI, TG, VS
1’530’031 Yes (48.08%)
1’652’010 No (51.92%)
Voter turnout 59.27%
As the majority of the cantons does not play a role in an optional referendum, only the number of votes is decisive and the majority were in favour of the animals and against the Hunting Act.
Initial situation: In December 2022, Parliament approved the revised Federal Act on Hunting and the Protection of Wild Mammals and Birds (Hunting Act, HRA). For the wolf, the new hunting law practically means the end of its raison d’être in Switzerland. According to the politicians, in future wolves should no longer only be allowed to be shot if they have caused damage, but also to prevent possible damage. In addition, a regulation season for wolves has been included in the hunting law: Entire wolf families are to be allowed to be shot from 1 September to 31 January. This massively loosens the protection of wolves in Switzerland and gives the cantons a lot of power without clear guidelines! The bill is a major step backwards for the wolf and is incompatible with national and international animal and species protection agreements. Especially in this day and age, when species are dying out everywhere, everything must be done to promote species protection and not to relax it! This is why the referendum was taken, which was actively supported by NetAP.
Result: There was very little time left to vote in favour of the wolf. By 24 March 2023 at the latest, 50,000 Swiss citizens with voting rights would have had to sign in favour of the wolf if it was to be given another chance. Unfortunately, apart from NetAP, there were hardly any animal welfare organisations that supported this referendum, so it did not materialise. The consequences for the wolf are fatal.
Initial situation: Basel Zoo was planning a seawater aquarium on the Heuwaage in Basel. The costs for the realisation of the so-called ‘Ozeanium’ construction project amounted to over 100 million francs. At the same time, the world’s oceans are under threat like never before: almost a third of the world’s coral reefs have been destroyed. Large aquariums are fuelling this destruction because they rely on wild catches. Commercial breeding of most species living in coral reefs is practically impossible. Various coral reef fish are already locally extinct or threatened with extinction due to excessive wild catches and the cruel practices of the aquarium industry. The ‘Ozeanium’ project is an outdated, expensive concept. Worldwide, the number of visitors to large aquariums is declining. Even if the construction had been financed with private donations, the foreseeable decline in visitor numbers would have threatened an operating deficit.
The ‘Ozeanium’ was advertised as ‘environmental education’. The large aquarium was supposed to awaken a fascination for the oceans and promote their protection. All hypocritical arguments! So far, not a single study has been able to prove that aquariums achieve such goals. The fact is that there are more marine aquariums in the world than ever before, but the oceans are more threatened than ever.
The Grand Council of the Canton of Basel-Stadt voted in favour of the construction of the ‘Ozeanium’ on 17 October 2018. A referendum was held against this decision, which was also actively supported by NetAP.
Result: Together with the Fondation Franz Weber, environmental organisations, marine conservationists, experts and many motivated supporters, we were able to collect almost 5,000 signatures within the cantonal referendum deadline and submit them to the Basel-Stadt State Chancellery on 28 November 2018. On 15 December 2018, the State Chancellery published the result of the signature certification: 4,649 people signed to demand a referendum against the ‘Ozeanium’. This resulted in a referendum. On 19 May 2019, the people of Basel decided on the planned large aquarium: 54.56 to 45.44 percent voted against the ‘Ozeanium’ project. This decision is a victory for common sense and ethics.
NetAP submitted its statement for consultation on 15 November.
NetAP submitted its statement for consultation on 28 June.
NetAP commented on the consultation and criticised in particular the fact that cats are not mentioned in this planned amendment either. The federal government continues to consistently ignore every opportunity to curb cat suffering in Switzerland.
NetAP – Network for Animal Protection has joined forces with the Stiftung für das Tier im Recht (TIR) to call for the creation of a Swiss-wide regulation that obliges all owners of outdoor cats to have them neutered by a vet.
Further information on the petition can be found here.
The signatories of this petition call on the federal government to introduce regulations to protect animals so that the suffering of hundreds of animals in barn fires can finally come to an end.
A corresponding postulate is already pending in Parliament, but the Federal Council has rejected it. It is uncertain whether the National Council will instruct the federal government to examine animal-specific fire safety regulations for stables. This is another reason why we need your support now.
The petition ended at the end of 2025. This was followed by round-table discussions with the BLV, the farmers’ association and other stakeholders. No results have been achieved to date. Further information on the petition can be found here.
The petition called on the Federal Council and Parliament to a) make a binding commitment to a gradual phase-out of harmful animal experiments; b) take measures to systematically review the benefits of state-funded research involving animal experiments and to publish these results on a regular basis; c) take the necessary steps to develop a gradual phase-out plan for harmful animal experiments with binding and specific targets and milestones as well as corresponding deadlines. This should enable an innovative, animal-free and sustainable biomedical research centre in Switzerland.
The petition was handed over in Bern on 29 April 2024 with 40,550 signatures. You can find more information here.
The petition calls for the creation of a Commissioner General for Animal Welfare in the EU to give animal welfare more weight on the political agenda. The petition was successful and eventually became a motion that went to the EU Parliament. You can find more information here.
Following the amendment to the law in Romania, the so-called ‘killing law’, animal rights activists worldwide called for this newly adopted rule to be repealed.
Corruption at the expense of street dogs in Apulia is rife. The petition called for immediate action by the authorities and politicians against the untenable abuses.
Dramatic incidents repeatedly occur in slaughterhouses, causing great suffering to the animals. This is rarely reported to the police, partly due to a lack of evidence. Video surveillance would remedy this situation.
The Palio is considered a tourist attraction in Italy, but is associated with great suffering for the horses. This is why such attractions must be stopped, as they are no longer in keeping with the times.
8hours is pursuing the primary goal of a maximum limit of eight hours for the transport of animals for slaughter across the EU – and thus the abolition of long-distance transport. This petition is a joint project of our partner Animals’ Angels and the Danish Member of the European Parliament Dan Jørgensen.
Further information on the petition can be found here.
On 15 December 2025, various animal welfare organisations send an open letter to Siemens Healthineers International calling on the company to immediately stop purchasing antibodies from the aforementioned animal testing laboratory.
The open letter to Siemens Healthineer International can be found here.
Open letter to Federal Councillor Baume-Schneider: Serious shortcomings and lack of transparency in the enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act in Ramiswil, Canton of Solothurn
You can find the letter to the Federal Councillor here. The response from Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider can be found here.
Open letter to Migros: No breaking of promises to ‘Generation M’
You can find the letter to Migros here.
Open letter to the embassy and consulate of Turkey with the offer to establish a comprehensive neutering programme instead of relying on killing dogs for population control.
Open letter on the current revision of the Hunting Ordinance (JSV), which massively relaxes the protection of wolves.
You can find the letter to the Federal Council here.
Despite multiple reports to the relevant authorities and complaints from local residents, immense animal suffering occurred in Oftringen that could have been prevented. In an open letter, animal welfare organisations are asking Federal Councillor Alain Berset to finally ensure the consistent implementation of animal welfare regulations.
Highly damaging primate experiment: open letter to the Government Council
The three animal welfare representatives of the Zurich Animal Experimentation Commission have appealed to the Administrative Court against the highly damaging primate experiments at Zurich’s universities. In an open letter, the Foundation for Animals in the Law and the Zurich Animal Welfare Organisation, which have joined forces in the KKT for cantonal animal welfare issues, express their deep regret at the decision of the Zurich cantonal government. The letter is supported by 46 Swiss animal welfare organisations, including NetAP.
Esslingen, 12. Juli 2015
Open letter to
Dr. sc. nat. Johannes Jenny
Biologe und Geschäftsführer Pro Natura, Aargau
and
the Government Council of the Canton of Aargau
Sehr geehrter Herr Jenny
Nachdem Sie am 30. Juni 2015 dem Regierungsrat des Kantons Aargau eine Interpellation zur Stellungnahme zu vier Fragen eingereicht haben, erlauben auch wir uns, zu Ihren Ausführungen Stellung zu nehmen.
Wir gratulieren Ihnen, dass Sie die „Bedeutung der Kontrolle der verwilderten Katzen“ als ein Problem erkannt haben, das es zu lösen gilt. Gemäss unseren vorsichtigen Hochrechnungen werden in der Schweiz jährlich 100‘000 Katzenkinder getötet, weil niemand sie haben möchte (vgl. Beilage 1)! Wir sind bestrebt, dieses unnötige Töten, das überdies noch oft mit Leiden verbunden ist, auf andere Weise tierschutzgerecht und nachhaltig zu reduzieren.
Den von Ihnen in der Interpellation verfolgten Lösungsansatz, zur Waffe zu greifen und Katzen zu erschiessen, bloss weil sie sich am falschen Ort aufgehalten haben, unabhängig von ihrem Gesundheitszustand (!), erachten wir weder aus ethisch-moralischen noch aus sachlichen Gründen als richtig und zielführend. Es hilft weder den betroffenen Tieren – deren Schutz Sie ja fordern – noch handelt es sich um eine nachhaltig wirksame Intervention.
Wir laden Sie deshalb vielmehr dazu ein: Setzen Sie sich stattdessen für eine Kastrationspflicht aller Katzen ein, die sich im Freien bewegen können (also nicht nur der verwilderten!), und Sie werden eine nachhaltige Lösung im Interesse der Katzen und der Wildtiere (z.B. Reptilien, Amphibien und Vögel) erreichen (vgl. Beilage 2 zu den vielen Vorteilen einer Kastration)! Als promovierter Biologe und Geschäftsführer von Pro Natura sollte Ihnen eine solche Massnahme und das damit verfolgte Ziel wohl vielmehr entsprechen.
Zu den von Ihnen in der Interpellation erwähnten Punkten im Einzelnen:
Was übrigens den Punkt Hunger betrifft, wäre das mit kontrollierten Futterstellen einfach zu lösen. Damit könnten zusätzlich Neuzugänge sowie kranke und verletzte Tiere sofort erkannt und entsprechend gehandelt werden.
Und was den Punkt Krankheit betrifft, so erwähnen Sie an anderer Stelle fälschlicherweise die Staupe, die zwar dem Fuchs, nicht aber der Katze zum Verhängnis wird. Den Katzen machen die Panleukopenie und der Katzenschnupfen zu schaffen. Während der Schnupfen nicht unbedingt tödlich ist, ist es die Panleukopenie oder Seuche meistens schon. Vor letzteren kann die Katze aber mit nur einer Impfung geschützt werden, was gleich bei der Kastration der wilden Katzen erfolgen könnte.
Wenn Sie sich nun fragen, was es für andere (verhältnismässigere) Möglichkeiten gibt, die korrigierend eingreifen, dennoch aber die von Ihnen verfolgten Ziele und darüber hinaus noch viele weitere Vorteile anstreben und gleichzeitig nachhaltig wirken, dann haben wir in der Tat einen international bewährten Lösungsvorschlag für Sie: die Kastration der Katzen! Dies hat übrigens die folgenden Vorteile:
Gerne hoffen wir, dass Sie unsere Ausführungen als Beitrag zu einer nachhaltigen und verhältnismässigen Kontrolle verwilderten Hauskatzen begrüssen. Wenn Sie eine Kastrationspflicht für Freigänger-Katzen im Kanton Aargau einführen wollen, unterstützen wir Sie gerne dabei. Nehmen Sie jederzeit mit uns Kontakt auf. Im Übrigen laden wir Sie auch gerne ein, uns auf einen Kastrationseinsatz zu begleiten um sich ein persönliches Bild machen zu können.
Für weitere Fragen stehen wir Ihnen gerne zur Verfügung.
Mit freundlichen Grüssen
NetAP – Network for Animal Protection
Lic. iur. Esther Geisser, Präsidentin
Dr. iur. Bruno Mascello, Vizepräsident
Dr. med. vet. Enrico Clavadetscher, Vorstandsmitglied und medizinischer Leiter
Supplements already mentioned and linked in the text:
1 Hochrechnung Katzentötungen in der Schweiz
2 Bündner Tagblatt „Eine Kastration hat viele Vorteile“
Identifikationsmethoden bei kastrierten, verwilderten Katzen
Lobster is still considered a delicacy by many people. However, the live presentation on ice is preceded by a long period of suffering. Before they are imported, lobsters are usually ‘stored’ for months in conditions that are alien to the species and extremely stressful: locked up in tiny cages with no place to retreat and no food. Lobsters are anything but social animals. Just being in close proximity to other lobsters puts these solitary animals under constant stress. Only the strongest animals survive this ordeal.
Every fifth lobster dies before it is even exported. They are transported like a commodity – upright without water in polystyrene crates, which are sometimes thrown around so that a further proportion of the lobsters do not survive the transport. Like fish, lobsters are gill-breathers that can breathe air for a short time, but slowly suffocate in the process. Depending on the area of origin, the transport takes 12 to 24 hours. Some of the surviving lobsters then have the misfortune of being presented alive on ice before they are finally cooked alive. However, far more of the surviving lobsters end up in holding tanks filled with fresh water. This is additional torture for the saltwater animals, whose cells become so saturated with water that they can burst in extreme cases. The ‘crowning glory’ of this ordeal is that the animals end up alive or half dead in the boiling water. The pans are usually too small, so that the water cools down as soon as the lobster lands in the pan, which further prolongs the agonising procedure.
It has long been possible to buy lobsters that have been gently stunned and killed with electricity directly after being caught. A study carried out by the cantonal veterinarians fully confirms what the organisation fair-fish has been postulating for years: Importing lobsters alive constitutes massive cruelty to animals and should no longer be permitted. For these reasons, fair-fish has decided to send a letter to Federal Councillor Berset. We support this endeavour.
You can help too: Please print out this letter and send it to Federal Councillor Berset so that this agony can finally come to an end!
In an open letter to the Federal Council, numerous animal welfare organisations (including NetAP) and the Animal Party have called on the Council to speak out against the killing of dogs in Romania and to exert corresponding influence on the Romanian Prime Minister.
NetAP began initial talks with Swiss and Romanian politicians last year and is eagerly awaiting the Federal Council’s response.
You can find the letter to the Federal Council here.
Elections 2023 – who will stand up for animals?
Switzerland will elect a new parliament in October. Unfortunately, the past has clearly shown that our members of the National Council and Council of States are still far too little sensitised to animal welfare issues. People who are constantly opposed to improvements in animal welfare should therefore no longer be elected. On the other hand, people who consistently stand up for animals should definitely get our votes.
It is also worth taking a closer look at new candidates. Can we assume that they will represent the interests of animals in Bern or not?
With the animaux-politique-suisse platform, numerous animal welfare organisations have set up a website to help you decide who you should vote for.
We have it in our hands to form a new parliament that will perhaps show greater willingness to alleviate animal suffering in the future. Hence our plea: Go and vote. Raise your voice for more animal protection in the Swiss parliament!
Click here for the platform: www.animaux-politique-suisse.ch
The Animal Rights March was first held in London in 2016. 2500 animal lovers marched peacefully through the centre of London to stand up for an end to animal exploitation. The idea came from Surge, the organisation of animal rights activist Earthling Ed.
The action gave rise to an international movement. In summer 2018, the march took place in 25 cities around the world. By 2019, it had already reached 42 cities, including Zurich. Around 2,500 people, including many volunteers from NetAP and the entire Executive Board, took part in this peaceful rally to demand more rights for animals. Because the suffering must be stopped. Because every life matters!
You can find an album of the Animal Rights March here
And here is the film about the Animal Rights March
On 19 June 2013, the National Council rejected a motion that would have banned the shooting of cats in future by 105 votes to 59 with eight abstentions. The motion was based on a petition by the ‘SOS Chats’ association from the canton of Neuchâtel. The politicians are not interested in alternatives such as neutering campaigns or mandatory neutering. They would rather allow cats to be shot by hunters.
In most cases, the animals are only injured and die an agonising death. This is of no interest to the Federal Council, which also rejects the proposal. Environment Minister Doris Leuthard emphasises that feral domestic cats are undesirable, as they threaten the native wild cat by mixing the genetic material. The fact that this problem could be solved by compulsory castration is apparently not an option for Leuthard and many of her colleagues.
The motion is therefore off the table, but the cats’ suffering continues.
NetAP contacted various politicians afterwards and asked them why they voted in favour of shooting cats. The shocking thing: Just a few days after the vote, several politicians could not remember having spoken out in favour of such a thing and assumed that this was an oversight.
An oversight that costs lives!
Animal welfare receives little attention in Bern. Business aimed at improving animal welfare is almost always rejected. Decisions on Swiss animal welfare are made in Bern and we need politicians who are committed to the cause of animals.
To find out which politicians have campaigned for the welfare of animals and/or will do so in the future, visit the Animal Parliament website. Tierparlament is an online platform that provides information about the activities and positions of members of the National Council and Council of States and candidates in the area of animals and animal welfare.
The ranking relates only to animal welfare issues and the stance of individual politicians, regardless of the stance and programme of the party they represent.
Vote wisely and make sure that your representatives in Bern give animals a voice: Tier-parlament.ch
Pedigree puppies at rock-bottom prices
The Swiss electorate approved the revision of the Animal Diseases Act on 25 November 2012. Most of the changes will apply from 1 May 2013, including the ban on the pet trade for animals, which is particularly important in relation to the uncontrolled trade in puppies, which has increased significantly in recent years and poses a considerable risk for the introduction of diseases such as rabies, in addition to all the animal suffering associated with this trade.
In future, it will therefore be illegal in Switzerland to sell animals from the boot of a car in car parks. Nevertheless, the trade in cheap puppies from the East (e.g. from Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and the Czech Republic) will continue as long as there are people buying dogs from these breeding centres.
The fact that animal welfare falls by the wayside is something that far too many people unfortunately ignore.
If you love animals, give an animal from the shelter a chance!