According to estimates, around 31 million pets live in Germany, not counting some animals such as fish in aquariums or terrarium inhabitants. These animals are currently protected by the Animal Welfare Act, which, however, does not specify the housing requirements. The animal protection organization PETA is therefore calling for a separate pet protection law.
Solitary caged rabbit housing is cruelty to animals, according to PETA – Shutterstuck/Iracha
PETA is primarily concerned with concrete minimum requirements that are explicitly laid down for pets and their keeping and that are currently missing in the Animal Welfare Act. A law on the protection of pets should relate to private keeping as well as to breeding and trading.
According to PETA, why is a pet protection law needed?
Animal protection is enshrined in the Basic Law as a constitutional goal; this means that our animals should be legally protected from suffering, death and exploitation. However, since no precise guidelines have been formulated for keeping them, countless animals live in conditions that are not species-appropriate. Often due to ignorance on the part of the owners, since the legislature does not specify any specific keeping conditions for the individual pet species. For example, some pet owners are simply not aware that it is animal cruelty to house a rabbit individually in a small cage.
According to PETA, not only pets in private households, but also animals in pet shops or in breeding must be better protected. But what exactly is the animal welfare organization asking for when it proposes a pet protection law?
A pet protection law should contain these points
PETA primarily calls for a binding housing regulation for all pets. For example, social species such as birds or rabbits should only be kept in groups. Furthermore, a castration obligation for free roamers and strays is demanded. The keeping of wild animals in private households should be banned. PETA requires a dog license for dog owners nationwide.
PETA is also calling for more awareness of animal welfare with regard to breeding and trading. For example, a pet protection ordinance is intended to ban torture breeding and bird exchanges and exhibitions. Animals should also no longer be allowed to be sold in pet shops. Further points and the possibility of supporting PETA’s cause can be found on the PETA Germany homepage.
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