A new rule forcing Germans to take their dogs for a walk twice a day has caused a debate on whether the state can decide what is best for the country’s 9.4 million pet dogs.
Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner announced this week she had taken expert advice and was introducing a law to make sure dogs go for a walk or run in the garden at least one hour twice a day. “Pets are not lovely toys—their needs have to be considered,” said Kloeckner, adding pets must get enough exercise and not be left alone for too long.
With almost one in five German homes owning a dog, the new “Animal Welfare Dog Regulation”, which also sets limits on the transportation of farm animals in hot weather, affects a large percent of the population.
“The new rule for Dog Owners? Rubbish!” wrote the Bild newspaper in an opinion piece. A spokesman for the VDH German Dog Association said most owners were laughing at the new rule because they already spent enough time walking their friends. Dog trainer Anja Striegel said the amount of exercise that a dog needs depended on the health, age and type of dog.
Then there is the question of enforcement. The government has said the 16 states will manage to carry out the rule but it is unclear how.
本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写,未经书面授权,禁止复制和任何商业用途,版权所有,侵权必究!(作者投稿及时文阅读定制请联系微信:18980471698)