How to get a dog
"I'd like to have a dog. A French friend told me that owning a pet has become very difficult in France. What is the situation in Switzerland and Geneva?
Tania, Geneva
The federal law on the protection of animals stipulates that all animal keepers must ensure the well-being and protection of their animals. They must take account of the animal's needs and pay particular attention to its diet, housing and the care it requires, especially in the event of illness or injury.
In the wake of the unfortunate cases of dogs attacking children in recent years, the Federal Council has laid down in the Ordinance on the Protection of Animals that before acquiring a dog, the future keeper must provide proof of competence showing that he or she has acquired knowledge of how to keep and treat dogs in such a way as to guarantee their socialisation, i.e. the development of relationships with other dogs and with humans, as well as their adaptation to the environment. The keeper must take the necessary steps to ensure that his dog does not endanger humans or animals. Information on the courses required to obtain this certificate can be found on the website of the Federal Veterinary Office. These courses consist of a theoretical part and a practical part, each part lasting a minimum of 4 hours. They are given by dog trainers throughout Switzerland.
In Geneva, the State Council has introduced measures targeting dangerous or potentially dangerous dogs, in particular by drawing up a list of potentially dangerous dog breeds, which should be consulted. Dogs on this list must be kept on a lead and muzzled as soon as they leave the owner's home. They may only be acquired from a kennel affiliated to a Swiss dog club or from a Swiss animal protection organisation. The acquisition and keeping of such a dog are subject to authorisation issued by the Consumer and Veterinary Affairs Department. Permission is personal and non-transferable, and applies only to the dog that has been identified and is the subject of the permission. A number of conditions must be met before such authorisation can be granted: the puppy must come from a source that complies with legal provisions; the keeper must be of legal age and not have been the subject of any sanction or administrative measure relating to animals on Swiss territory; the animal must be spayed or neutered as soon as it reaches the age of 7 months, unless there is a duly proven medical contraindication; the keeper must attend dog training courses regularly from the time the puppy is acquired until the puppy reaches the age of 24 months; from the dog's 3rd year of life, the keeper must submit an annual report to the department assessing the animal's control, drawn up by the dog trainer; the keeper may not keep another dog in the household, regardless of breed, size or weight, without the department's written consent.
The application for authorisation to keep a potentially dangerous dog must be submitted on the official form to the Consumer and Veterinary Affairs Department at least 30 days before the dog is acquired. It will only become final and enforceable once the administrative fee has been paid. In the event of refusal, a reasoned decision is notified to the applicant. It is then up to the department to decide what to do with the animal.
