Laws and regulations

Animal protection laws and animal protection ordinances are basically intended to serve the protection and welfare of animals and regulate human behaviour towards animals. They contain minimum requirements on topics such as keeping, transporting and killing animals and draw the line at cruelty to animals. The regulations in the laws do not indicate what is species-appropriate. Accordingly, many things are permitted by law that are already cruel to animals in the eyes of animal lovers. It is often incomprehensible to a layperson why a veterinary office does not intervene in many cases. But authorities are bound by the law.

Switzerland does not have a truly animal-friendly law either

Although the Animal Welfare Ordinance has brought about some improvements, there has been no major progress compared to the old law. Nevertheless, there are now husbandry regulations for many domestic animals that did not previously exist. Horses, goats, sheep and fish were explicitly mentioned for the first time. Previously, only the general provisions applied to these animals, which made enforcement difficult. On the other hand, the new ordinance does not bring any real improvements for farm and wild animals.

It is difficult to push through legislative changes, but not impossible. And anyone who wants to protect animals would do well to know the laws.