Pets in Switzerland

The only one thing I love more than random facts are animals. When I first moved to Lausanne I thought I was in dog paradise. So many of them! But I soon discovered that they are more to be observed than petted…

Never, ever, pet a dog without asking first

In Switzerland, dog owners are liable for their pets’ behavior. This means that if a dog, for any reason, decides to bite someone, the owner is responsible for the care of the person and can even be prosecuted. Thus, dog owners are not very keen on letting people pet their dogs. So, hold your instinct of petting every single dog you see on the street (it’s very hard, I know) and ask first. Most likely you will get a no, but at least you won’t offend anyone.

Dogs pay taxes

Well, not the dog per se, but the owner.

Once you move to Switzerland with your dog or get one here, you need to go to your commune and register it. The tax you must pay will vary according to your location.

The money is basically used to provide the poop bags that are available at the trash bins. So, no excuse to not pick up your dog’s kaka.

Social animals need company

In case you are interested on having a guinea pig or a cow, think again. You will need at least a pair of them. That’s because it is considered animal cruelty to prevent such species from interacting with other animals of the same species. There are even rental services of those animals in case one of yours die and you are left with a single one.

Animal shelters

There are many animal shelters in Switzerland. Some of the animals are Swiss, but some of them come from Easter European countries and are relocated here in order to have better chances of being adopted. The shelters usually have a variety of species, from dogs and cats to small rodents and birds. Adopting is always a nice way to save a life!

While in other countries volunteering at animal shelters are quite easy, here in Switzerland you need special training to do so. An easier way is to apply as a dog-walker, so you can still spend some time with animals (and pet them) without committing into taking full care of another life.