Safest Countries for Animals

Out of curiosity, I wanted to search what are some of the safest countries for animals. We've mostly talked about the US in class and frankly, the US really isn't doing a great job preventing animal cruelty. The US is actually the only developed country to use chimpanzees for invasive experiments. The US has the animal welfare act but it excludes rats, birds, and mice, which make up about 95% of all animals used in laboratories. Here are some countries that the US should take some tips from:

"In 2008, Spain (once thought of as the bullfighting capital of the world) became the first country to grant great apes “human rights,”"

"Austria has one of the strongest anti-cruelty laws in the EU, prohibiting many practices that are commonplace elsewhere. In Austria, it’s illegal for pet stores to sell puppies and kittens, for circuses to use lions and tigers and for people to crop dogs’ ears and tails or to restrain dogs with chains, choke collars or “invisible” electric fences. After the law passed in 2004, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel proclaimed, “Austria is taking the role of pioneer. This new law … lifts animal protection to the highest level internationally.”"

"Several other European nations, including Sweden, Estonia, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Switzerland, prohibit ear cropping and tail docking. The Netherlands also outlaws fox and chinchilla farming and gives vegetarians discount health insurance rates."

"In 2004, Reggio Emilia, Italy, passed unprecedented animal rights bylaws, making it illegal to boil lobsters alive and keep goldfish in glass bowls. Amusement parks cannot legally give their customers goldfish, chicks and rabbits as prizes, and social species of captive birds must be kept in pairs. Birdcages in Reggio Emilia—the unofficial bird breeding capital of Italy—must meet specific size guidelines. Monza, Italy, also prohibits people from keeping goldfish in bowls and forbids fairs from giving away dyed chicks and other small animals as prizes."

And there you have it! Some of the most forward thinking countries concerning animal welfare. These countries are all taking a step in the right direction and I truly believe that the US should follow their lead. Quotes taken from: http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/which-is-the-safest-country-for-animals/