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They say every dog has its day - and in Switzerland every dog may soon be able to have its day in court. The country is holding a referendum on whether animals that have been mistreated can be legally represented. Pets and livestock in the canton of Zurich can already have lawyers and voters will decide today whether to apply the legislation across the rest of the nation.
Zurich animal solicitor Antoine Goetschel already represents those beings without a voice. He believes a 'yes' vote in the referendum is essential to stop a minority of farmers and pet owners from abusing their animals. Not everyone agrees. Countryside unions claim the new laws will create too much bureaucracy and they argue the existing welfare legislation is already robust.
Switzerland has some of the most wide-reaching animal cruelty laws in the world. People who are fed up with their goldfish cannot flush it down the loo alive - instead it must be dispatched with a blunt instrument and then disposed.
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