In Germany It Will Be Compulsory To Walk The Dog Twice A Day
For people who have dogs and treat them as if they are family members, this news may be unusual. However, there are many pets that don’t get enough exercise. In the interest of animal welfare, Germany has decided to pass a law that will make it mandatory to walk the dog twice a day starting in 2021.
Many dogs don’t go out as much as they should or just walk around the block. This law will also take into account other discomfort and abuse, such as loneliness or being tied up all day.
In Germany a new law to protect dogs
The new law, which will be enacted in Germany in 2021, will specify how often dog owners will have to take them for walks every day.
This new regulation was proposed by the country’s agriculture minister, Julia Klöckner, and is based on scientific studies showing that dogs need a certain amount of activity and stimulation, both environmental and social, to be healthy.
The data shows that a large proportion of Germany’s 9.4 million dogs are not getting enough physical and mental exercise. Therefore, this new Hundeverordnung or Dog Law will prevent owners from only giving their pet a short walk around the building.
But how will it be possible to force owners who are not used to walking the dog to do it from now on? According to a spokesman for the ministry, it will be up to each individual German region to enforce the law once it is enacted.
In Germany, dogs will be more protected than ever
In addition to the fact that it will be mandatory to walk the dog twice a day, these walks cannot last less than an hour.
The law also wants to prevent many dogs from spending too many hours alone during the day, not just because of their owners’ working hours. From the moment the law is promulgated, this incidence will also be monitored.
This way, if an owner has to leave their dog alone for more than eight hours, someone will have to visit him. Another clause of the law prohibits leaving the dog tied up beyond a specific period of time.
A controversial debate
After the news, a debate arose that some journalists define as “animated”, an imprecise title when it comes to animal welfare. Indeed, within the minister’s party, an MP named Saskia Ludwig tweeted the following:
“VOLUNTARY NOTICE: I will not take my Rhodesian Ridgeback for two rounds of hiking in temperatures of 32 degrees, but we will jump into the river to cool off.”
When it comes to dog welfare, keeping them indoors for days is wrong, even when you have a garden. Dogs need new stimuli that develop their sense of smell and keep them mentally active.
Likewise, dogs that have been properly educated and know how to communicate with other dogs and humans must continue to perfect this aspect. Those who have not had much luck should have the opportunity to improve and learn.
If we deprive our dog of a nice walk, not only for the neighborhood or the nearest park but also for the countryside, we are not guaranteeing him all the well-being he deserves. As Klöckner pointed out:
Who is exempt from the new law?
So far, it is not known whether there will be people who will not have to obey the law, although common sense may provide us with clues. For example, one man reported that his 14-year-old dog with cancer couldn’t walk that long due to his physical condition.
Any vet will agree that dogs need to go outside for exercise every day and that this exercise is quality.
Even so, obviously, if an animal has some pathology that makes it difficult to walk or that tires it a lot, it cannot be forced, because this too would be a form of abuse.
Unfortunately, due to the misbehavior of some owners, laws like this are necessary to promote the welfare of pets, just as there are regulations on abandonment, physical abuse and other types of mistreatment of animals.
However, laws that strengthen the safety and well-being of dogs and other animals should always be welcome.
