New Swiss Laws - includes guinea pigs

[cavy-cool-crazy]

New Swiss law protects rights of 'social' animals - Times Online

I found this article very interesting. I initially read the news in the Daily Mail on 26th April but the article online isn't the same as the one I read in the paper, which focused much more on guinea pigs.

I for one am glad the Swiss government has taken this action. Too much is about human convenience these days, so to ban the keeping of single pets (pets who are naturally social creatures) is a good step in the right direction: putting the animals needs ahead.

[Cosmictadpole]

That's wonderful. I've often wished I could move there...

[crazywiggy]

That's awesome news - well done Switzerland!
I love all those laws, especially housing social animals socially, and the dog owners course!

Maybe now that Britain can no longer claim to be the animal welfare capital of the world, our own government will actually start to listen and do the right thing.

[ArtisticRainey]

That's good. The comments below were talking about personal liberty, the choice to choose what to do with your animals. I guess it comes down to what you value more: human enjoyment or animal misery.

Random: When I read this thread title for the first ten times, I kept thinking, 'New Swiss Lambs - includes guinea pigs? What have people done now?!'

[frashy]

LOL! 'New Swiss Lambs'! That is amazing!

If only America would focus more on animal-welfare. I wish I could move out to England.

[crazywiggy]

Frashy - I assume you mean Switzerland because of these new laws?

Don't get me wrong, I do think England is marginaly better than the States for animal welfare but not much. I mean, on the plus side docking, cropping, declawing and descenting are illegal. Minimum housing requirements for lab and farm animals are slightly better (by a few tiny centimetres). Puppies and kittens in stores are virtually unheard of.

But we're not great - we still have most of the same problems you guys do, and still have to fight for everthing.

[frashy]

Oops! I ment Europe..silly me. It's a pretty good improvement compared to the animal welfare here out in the States. Though, my reason goes far beyond than just animal welfare..but don't get me wrong, I am thankful for many things my country has allowed me to do, that most people take for granted.

[Metroid & Boo]

Wow that is great!! Well done Switzerland