As with any enforced change, we’re likely to hear more from veterinary professionals, as well as pet owners, about the pending Swiss pet housing and care regulations. There will no doubt be friends, and opponents, of the plan.
We’ve all heard that No Man is an Island, and according to the Swiss Federal Council on September 1, 2008, no guinea pig or budgie should be either.
The new regulations aren’t targeted solely at owners of cavies and budgies, but include 175 pages of rules that apply to circuses, farms, and zoos, as well as individuals that own other domesticated pets.
Supporters of the new regulations, prospected to be enforced in September 2010, include the animals whose care is in question, as well as those troubled about jobless rates in Switzerland. There will be manpower required to enforce these laws, as well as educators needed to teach pet owners.
Although established with the safety of our furry friends in mind, these upcoming Swiss pet regulations have been met with a certain dose of scorn.
Naysayers question the potential of these 175 pages to bring order. Case in point,
How can minimum cage sizes for budgies and guinea pigs be uniformly enforced?
How will a literal ban on canine possession for those who haven’t completed a dog ownership course be imposed? What will happen to dogs whose owners are disobedient?
How will inhabitants of Geneva, where tight dog ownership regulations are already in force, react to 16 hours of additional required instruction?
Farther out of the budgie budget are minimum cage size obligations for large animals, such as elephants and rhinoceroses. Sanitation guidelines relate to zoos and circuses, which the Swiss government reserves the right to insist on.
Farmers are likely to zoo out about the pending enforcement. Some policy is established, like the ban of chicken cages since 1981, but others might come as a shock. Uninterrupted tethering of animals is now out of the question, while hogs get the right to have a shower on summer days and spick and span pens all year round. And horses, like guinea pigs and budgies, will no longer be living alone.
Likewise, breeders are going to have to breed a new attitude in regard to care of animals on their properties.
The newest Swiss animal ownership laws will not go into full effect until September of 2010, and until they do, the Swiss government wants to stress their desire to encourage education, rather than to enforce with a strong arm. This, however, does not indicate a lax attitude on their part, when penalties are called for. If an incident, such as a dog bite, calls for action, action will be taken.
You might own a seemingly invisible pet, like a budgie or guinea pig, or a run an organization that displays the largest land mammal alive. Either way, be prepared for education, restrictions, and tougher requirements
The greatest plan of action for any animal owner will unquestionably be to familiarize him or herself with regulations that relate to their specific animal ownership circumstances.
Whether you’re a lifelong Geneva citizen or a newcomer to Switzerland, animal ownership instruction is not an option, it’s the law.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
