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Court rejects ambulance sirens for animals

Injured or sick animals do not have the right to be transported in a vehicle with a siren, the Swiss Federal Court has ruled.

This content was published on October 8, 2008 - 12:03

The Court rejected the appeal of a veterinary practice that wanted to equip its all-terrain vehicles with blue lights and warning sirens.

The judges ruled that animals should not be put on the same footing as humans, even if they also experienced suffering. Road safety had precedence over the speedy transport of creatures, they said.

The veterinary practice had complained that it did not have priority over other road users in emergency situations and that it should.

It pointed out that animal ambulances could exceed the speed limit in neighbouring France, Germany and Austria.

In compliance with the JTI standards

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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