International Animal Rights

April 14, 2021

Animal rights, what does it mean?

Animal rights means that animals deserve certain kinds of consideration, what is in their best interests, regardless of whether they are “cute,” useful to humans, or an endangered species and regardless of whether any human cares about them at all.

No animal deserves to be abused or neglected. Unfortunately these cruelties to animals happen on a daily basis. Animals rely on us to help protect them from their abusers by reporting incidents to the authorities.

There are examples of signs to look for when identifying animal abuse and neglect:

Someone kicking, beating, or otherwise physically harming an animal
Injuries that are starting to heal, but also has a new injury
When there are multiple pets in the household with injuries
Collar which is too tight, causing pain, injury, strangulation or even death
Open wounds or other injuries that obviously have not been treated
No access to food and water
Pets tied up alone outside for long periods of time away from food and water
Serious lack of grooming, such as unmanageable fur matting, overgrown coat and nails, visibly untreated sores
A pet or farm animal that does not have protection against outdoor elements
Lack of sanitation with feces and debris covering an animal’s living area
Abandoned homes have pets or animals left tied to posts
Fur is infested with ticks, fleas, or other bugs or parasites
Visible bones and extreme thinness can mean emaciation and starvation
Weakness paired with the inability to walk normally or even sit up
Animals that are crowded together into dirty kennels or cages
Animal in filthy, dangerous hoarding situations

Each country has implemented their own animal rights laws and abusers will be punished accordingly.

Which country has the strictest animal rights law?

It is difficult for animal lovers to see how animals are being mistreated and abused. Countries have different ways of how they deal with animal abuse, they have their own set of animal welfare or protection laws that govern how these abusers should be punished.

1. Switzerland

In 2008 the Swiss Ordinance on the Protection of Animals was put in place and their laws became one of the strictest in the world.

These are some examples
– Tails of dogs can’t be cropped
– Sandpaper can’t be used to line the bottom of a birdcage
– Puppies have to be 56 days old before they can be separated from their mother
– Social species must have a companion (fish, birds and yaks)
– Horses can’t be tied up and must be held close to other horses, so they can see, hear and smell each other

For more details about the Swiss Animal Laws click here.

2. Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance has been adjusted in 2006. Anybody performing one of these cruelties towards animals will be pushed through a fine of 200.000 Hong Kong Dollars and 3 years prison.

3. Germany

Germany added animals to its constitution in 2002. The adjusted sentence now reads, “The state takes responsibility for protecting the natural foundations of life and animals in the interest of future generations.” Germany was the first country in Europe who gave animals constitutional protection. For more details about the Animal Welfare Act in Germany, please click here.

4. United Kingdom

The U.K. government improved their animal welfare laws in 2004, which allowed for earlier intervention in cases of cruelty and increase the maximum sentence for such offenses. The Animal Welfare Act was approved in 2006 and replaced the one from 1911.

These are some examples of the adjustments made:

– Fairs were no longer allowed to give animals away as prizes
– Kids under 16 years old were not allowed to buy a pet
– Tails of dogs could no longer be cropped
– Forbid animal fighting
– Details about pets in a household should be treated

For more details about the animal laws in the U.K., please click here.

If you want to read more about the animal protection legislation in Spain, please click on this link.

Animal rights, what does it mean?