 If you are a pooch on the go who likes the nicer things in life, you might want to paw off to the United Kingdom. The U.K. is living up to its reputation as being a nation of true blue dog lovers. Many owners are reported to be feeding their pups healthier and tastier meals than they serve for themselves. A recent survey in the U.K. reports that a study of 1,337 British dog owners, 18 percent fed their dogs a better diet than they enjoy - giving the pets fresh dishes in place of canned dog food. In addition, 21 percent of the pet dogs were eating cheese, 15 percent were eating fish and 9 percent were fed vegetables by their pampering owners. A full 25 percent of those surveyed indicated that they would eat the food they were serving to their dogs. Direct Line insurance indicates that the gourmet meals were coming at a premium price, however. Dog owners are paying 2.3 billion pounds per year to feed their pooches and ten percent of dog owners admit that their pets have a weight problem.
The European convention for the protection of the rights of pets:
Edition - November, 1987
Member states of the Council of Europe have signed the following:
To consider, that the purpose of the Council of Europe is the achievement of the full consent between its members;
To recognize, that the man has moral obligations towards all the living beings, and to consider, that pets have special relationship with humans;
To consider important the contribution of pets in the improvement of the quality of human life and their considerable value for society;
To reckon with the difficulties arising in connection with a large variety of animals which live with humans;
To reckon with the risk arising because of overcrowding of pets, for hygiene, health and the safety of humans and other animals;
To consider, that the keeping of members of wild fauna as pets should not be encouraged;
To recognize various conditions, which must be followed during acquisition, commercial and noncommercial rearing, keeping and the trade in pets
To recognize, that pets must always be kept in the conditions, conducive to their health and well-being;
To notice, that the relations towards pets varies, sometimes due to lack of knowledge;
To consider, that development of common standards in relation to pets, enhancing the responsibility of the owner, is not only desirable, but must also be a real purpose.
General provisions:
1. Any animal, which is kept or will be kept by humans, in particular in the house, for personal convenience and pleasure, is called a pet.
2. Trade in pets means the regular business deals within reasonable number, when the owner of pets is changed.
3. Animal husbandry means the commercial rearing of animals in reasonable limits mainly for earning profits.
4. Non-profit organizations are the ones where pets, in particular the homeless, are given refuge.
5. Pet, which has no house or is beyond the possession of owner and is not under the control or direct supervision of owner or the person responsible for animal, is called a homeless animal.
6. The body, appointed by the country of European Community for observance of this Convention is called a competent body
The area of effect and fulfillment of condition:
1. Each of the side undertakes necessary measures for fulfilling the conditions of this Convention in relation to:
the pets, kept by an individual, or possessed for sale, rearing, or kept in a shelter:
homeless animals in the countries, where it is possible.
2. Signing of this Convention does not affect the execution of other contracts for protection or preservation of animals who are under threat.
3. Anything in this Convention does not affect the freedom of the sides to take more strict measures for protection of pets or to apply the positions, contained in this Convention, to the categories of animals, which have not been specially mentioned in this document.
Principles for keeping of pets:
Main principles, ensuring the well-being of animals:
1. Nobody must cause pain, suffering or anxiety to the pets.
2. Nobody should refuse from his pet.
Keeping:
1. Anybody who keeps the pets or is looking after them, bears the responsibility for their health and well-being.
2. Anybody who is keeping or looking after animals allocates them a convenient premise (place) and cares of them, keeping in view the kind and breed of animal, their ecological requirements, in particular:
provides them sufficient quality food and water;
provides the possibility for walks;
takes all measures to prevent the escape of animal.
3. The animal cannot be kept as pet, if:
a) conditions of the above cited point 2 are not met;
b) if, despite these conditions are observed, the animal cannot adapt to captivity.
Breeding:
Any person, who selects the pets for breeding, should bear the responsibility for the anatomic, physiological and behavioral characteristics, which may threaten the health and well-being of the issue and the mother. |
