Turkey to Require Pet Owner Certification
The Hürriyet Daily News reports that the Turkish government has been making substantial changes to their animal rights bill, whereby people who sell or adopt animals must take a training program that educates on proper accommodation and care.
According to the Parlimentary Sub-commission on the Environment, “Any person, who adopts, owns, sells or cares for an animal needs to have an accommodation suitable for the welfare of the animal, meet its ethological needs and care for its health. People who sell or adopt pets are obliged to take precautionary measures to prevent environmental pollution and damage and discomforts stemming from the animals; they need to compensate any damage stemming from not having taken adequate measures on time. Those who sell and own pets are obliged to participate in training programs organized by local administrations and obtain a certificate. A fine of 1,000 Turkish Liras will be imposed on those who sell pets to people who have not received animal care training.”
Other parts of the bill include:
- bans on killing ownerless or very weak animals
- fines for torture, abuse, or other ill-treatment, including animal fights
- obligations to seek veterinary help in the case of injured animals
- restrictions on using animals for research or experimentation
- prohibition on exposure to pain of any kind during any filming or public production, including circus animals
Rabbits are a common pet in Turkey, and this law could reduce cases of neglect and abandonment by ensuring prospective pet owners are given proper education before taking on the responsibility of a pet. Here at Zooh Corner, we offer a lot of good information about rabbit care, and ensure that everyone interested in adoptions are well-educated or experienced rabbit owners.
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