December 9, 2018 Comments Off on Switzerland: the country where it’s illegal to boil live lobsters or own one guinea pig only Views: 1585 Imago, Weird Laws

Countries around the world build their international image largely by how they treat their own citizens, but more than that, also how they treat animals and nature around people.

In this context, two interesting examples from Switzerland, the country where Albert Einstein adeveloped his famous formula E=MC 2 , or where the life expectancy at birth was 81.3 years for Swiss men and 85.3 years for Swiss women in 2015, according to the World Health Organization.

Switzerland, as it turns out, deeply cares also for our animal friends. According to Swiss law, owning ‘social’ pets is not possible unless you have a pair of them. The list includes guinea pig, mouse, ferret, fish, canary, pig or any other more social animal who demands more interaction and as little isolation as possible (like leaving your pet home alone for few days).

Such legal regulations position Switzerland as one of the countries with the most rigorous animal welfare laws. Owning just one guinea pig will be seen as abuse as the Swiss law regulates. Whether the rule is broken, the case can be subjected to special animal-supportive services including lawyers who will defend the animals.

In case it happens that an owner has two guinea pigs, and one of them dies, the owner also has an option to ask help from pet-renting services in case they don’t want to buy a new pet in order to complete their pair.

Need one more weird law from Switzerland? This concerns lobsters, once an abundant food resource that was served to poor people and prisoners but is today one of the fanciest foods you can order in restaurants.

THIS is why it’s illegal to boil a lobster alive in Switzerland 😰 pic.twitter.com/ydIVlVYPVU — PETA: Bringing Home the Bagels Since 1980 (@peta) October 8, 2018

So, according to Swiss law, boiling live lobsters for cooking is not allowed as this is deemed a terrible way to die a slow, and incredibly painful death. If Swiss chefs want to include lobster on their menus, the law asks that they knock the lobsters out before preparing them.

The acceptable stunning methods under Swiss law include electric shock and “mechanical destruction” as Mental Floss also writes, the second manner referring to stabbing the lobster in its head to destroy the brain. (It’s terrible anyway).

The Swiss government has also outlawed the transportation of live lobsters on ice or in icy water. The animals should instead be stored in containers that are as close to their natural environment as possible… until they’re ready for the pot.

More weird laws from around the world? In Norway, there is a city in the far north where it’s forbidden to be a cat owner

Tags: Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare laws, Switzerland, Weird Law