Here is the complete article for your pleasure:
" Strict new laws that went into effect across Switzerland on Sept. 1 have some wondering if legislators have overreached in efforts to safeguard the animal kingdom. It is now illegal to flush live goldfish down the toilet. The law stipulates that they must first be knocked out and killed before being disposed of. Fishermen may no longer practice catch-and-release fishing, and the use of live bait is prohibited. Pets such as parrots and hamsters may no longer be kept by themselves, and livestock such as sheep and goats must have at least “a visual contact with their fellows,” under the new 175- page law. Dog owners are now required to take classes to learn how to keep their pets from biting. Even with regulations saying that pigs have the legal right to shower and freshen up after rolling in mud, the country’s leading animal rights group, STS, says the new law doesn’t go far enough."
As an animal rights activist and someone who hates to see any living creature hurt or mistreated I am very confused by this new ruling. I am just hoping that this was mis-quoted and not correct. Let me break it down so you can see my confusion.
1. ...The law stipulates that they must first be knocked out and killed before being disposed of.
How is this humane and not abuse. They want to kill the fish first before you flush it down the toilet. How exactly do you "knock out" a gold fish? Do you use a mini mallet? Will they now sell "Gold Fish Killing Mallets" at Petco?
2. Fishermen may no longer practice catch-and-release
Okay, this one is not so confusing. I like it better than killing the fish for no reason. But, are they saying that fishermen can now catch the fish and toss them on the shore if they do not want to eat them? What happens if the fish is too small?
3. ...use of live bait is prohibited
This is fine with me since I don't fish and hate the thought of a worm waiting to be eaten while it drowns. And since there are so many lures that seem to work just as well if not better use those or do what my brothers did as kids use bologna or hot dogs.
4. ...parrots and hamsters may no longer be kept by themselves
First off hamsters are solitary creatures (unless they are Dwarf hamsters). Syrian hamsters which are the ones you usually see will kill each other if they are kept together, even if they are from the same litter. They are solitary animals. I don't know about parrots. So I guess the Swiss think it is more humane to let the hamsters kill one another than be alone.
5. ...livestock such as sheep and goats must have at least “a visual contact with their fellows,”
What does this mean? They can be separated as long as they can see each other. How cruel is that? There is their friend but they can't get to them.
AND NOW MY PERSONAL FAVORITE
6. ...pigs have the legal right to shower and freshen up after rolling in mud
The pigs have a legal right! When did pigs get involved in the law making process? How do you know they want to shower and freshen up after their mud bath? Do they tell you? Well, since they are now legal right holders they may be able to talk to. So if your pig tells you that he would like a shower can you just hose him off or do you have take him in the house and let him use the master bathroom for his personal hygiene? What is involved with a pig freshening up? Does he splash on some aftershave and deodorant?
As you can see I am very confused by these new laws. There is no mention in this report about not beating your dog for barking, or not feeding the cat for weeks on end. There is nothing about you have to provide shelter to the animals you are providing with friends and companions. There is no mention about how to maintain the proper health of your clean pig. I am hoping they have another report on the law books that ban those items. But one can not be certain since they seem to be concentrating on the more devious and inhumane treatment of animals first. I get teary eyed thinking that all my hamsters are abused because they live alone in their cages and I did not provide them with a partner to beat the crap out of at night. Luckily, I don't have a goldfish so I do not have to worry about knocking it unconscious before flushing him.
My personal thought is that the Swiss apparently have too much time on their hands because the leading animal rights group, STS, thinks these laws do not go far enough.