Jun10
It's Official: Animals Have Social Needs
Posted at 02:29 PM | Permalink
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Comments (7)
It's official in Switzerland at least, where, under a new federal law, failure to provide any "social" animals contact with others of their own kind will be legally defined as abuse. Better yet, the law requires training for prospective dog guardians and sets some common-sense guidelines regarding living conditions for many other animals, including animals on farms.
Of course, there's still room for improvement. No word yet on how the Swiss are going to square this law with the country's appalling cat-skinning trade, which has largely been ignored by authorities. The new regulations also require anglers to learn how to kill fish humanely. While it's encouraging that they're recognizing that fish are social animals, as a former fishing-contest winner, I know that the chances of finding a "humane" way to violently rip these animals from their environment to suffocate to death isn't bloody likely (though it is likely bloody).
Still, this new law is definitely a step in the right direction. It should be recognized and applauded, even while we keep up our efforts to bring about further reforms. Swiss chard for everyone!
—Jeff
Posted by Jeff Mackey
TAGGED:
fishing switzerland
Comments
The problem with "required training" is that there are dog breeders and other crackpots who promote themselves as "trainers" and want it required so they can make more money to run their breeding and puppy mill operations.
It's just another form of underground, untaxed income for them.
There are more bad trainers than there are good trainers.
There are also many "trainers" that are actually animal abusers.
There would be no way to weed out the bad from the good.
There is no valid "training licensing" and any from breeding-related organizations like AKC is worthless and suspect (since that corrupt organization supports puppy mills and animal abuse. They just want more ways for their breeders to make fast cash! and promote purebred dog sales and breeding)
"Requiring" training is no guarantee of anything, and may well mean very bad things for the animal!
I suspect there is a lobby of "trainers" in Switzerland who have lobbied for "required" training so they can make lots of money at the animal's expense!
and support their dog breeding habits
Posted by: kelly | June 10, 2008 04:29 PM
Plus these dog breeder/trainers are using training classes or sessions as ways to sell their dogs, and promote the purchase of purebred dogs.
It's just a marketing scheme to make more money in dog breeding, and trying to attract more people to give money to corrupt organizations like the "puppy mill" AKC.
Posted by: kelly | June 10, 2008 04:31 PM
Sounds great!! Would love to see that law be active around the globe! The Swiss government maybe heading back in the right direction!? Hard to enforce but the people will get the idea. The cat killing will have to be abolished then there will be peace, lets hope!!
Posted by: Carla | June 10, 2008 04:42 PM
This wasnt even about dog breeders! but good for the Swiss.
Posted by: rose | June 11, 2008 02:06 PM
Its official! The Swiss are pussies!
Posted by: Kurt K | June 11, 2008 04:07 PM
Poor kitties. :-( :-( :-(
Posted by: Michelle | June 11, 2008 09:40 PM
WOW!!!!!I think this is fantastic! Thank you Swiss gov't for having the sensitivity and cajones to enact this law!! Unbelievable!!
Posted by: lynda downie | June 11, 2008 11:38 PM