As spring swings into full gear so are dog-handling courses in Switzerland, where the law requires 40,000 dog owners to take a training class before the end of August.
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The transition period for the animal protection law passed two years ago is coming to an end.
Since September 2008, all first-time dog owners have had to take a written and practical course on the basics of dog ownership.
Those who purchased their dogs between September 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009 were given a grace period to complete the training. The Federal Veterinary Office said on Thursday that some 40,000 dog owners fall into that category.
Starting in September 2010, cantonal authorities can ask pet owners for documentation proving they have taken the proper courses, and levy fines on those who have not.
So far some 5,500 dog owners have taken a written course and another 7,500 have taken a practical component. About 1,100 trainers around the country offer instruction.
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Dog owners could face tougher rules
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On Sunday voters in canton Geneva agreed to tighten the leash, banning dangerous dogs and requiring owners whose dogs weigh more than 25kg to have a permit to walk them in public. Although Geneva is a canton of dog lovers – 32,000 dogs live on its territory of less than 250 square kilometres – about…
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However, the head of the Federal Veterinary Office wondered whether the problem and burden of responsibility did not lie more with dog owners. Last year 4,291 dog attacks were reported, of which 2,678 were on humans. There were also 309 cases of dogs being reported for nuisance behaviour. In more than 1,000 cases cantonal vets…
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Flailing and splashing, a panicky-looking woman cries out from the middle of the lake, and a Belgian Shepherd leaps from a nearby boat.
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The photographer Hansueli Trachsel and the author Regula Tanner have traced the relationship between animals and their owners. Short texts accompany the black-and-white portraits. The collection was published by Fischer, Münsingen, in 2007.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.