Pets – Obligations of Guardians

Guardians are legally obliged to ensure respect for each species, its health and well-being. These obligations include ensuring access to water, food, vaccines, veterinary care and forms of identification. Pet owners must not cause pain or mistreat animals in a way that results in suffering, abandonment or death. If the rules are flouted, animal keepers can be punished and some of the offences are punishable by imprisonment.

• Killing a pet animal without any legitimate reason is punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 2 years, or a fine from 60 to 240 days.
• Causing pain and suffering or other physical ill-treatment punishable by imprisonment from 6 months to 1 year or a fine from 60 to 120 days
• Abandoning an animal is punishable by a prison sentence of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 60 days.