The vast majority are very happy with their pets and take good care of them. But all too often we hear about animals that have been mistreated, about animals that have been dumped or euthanized because it was no longer appropriate to have animals, or because the owner’s wallet was empty. Every dog, cat, turtle, hamster and all other pets are individuals who have developed a life on this earth in parallel with us humans. They have just as much right to be treated well and with dignity as we do. After the corona pandemic, a large number of animals have been dumped. It is painful to read about how many people put the Christmas holiday ahead of the fur-clad “friend” they acquired during the pandemic. Vets have an influx of people who want to euthanize perfectly healthy dogs. The animal shelter receives so many neglected pets of all kinds that they sometimes have to stop taking them. Relocation centers do not have room for more cats and dogs. How can we as a society get control of this? How can we give our animals the respect they deserve? There are no requirements for either ID marking or pet insurance. Animals can therefore be owned by anyone, without any requirements beyond those mentioned in the Animal Welfare Act or the Dogs Act. As a veterinary student, I am more than moderately committed to good animal welfare, and have thought a lot about this. I have come to the conclusion that the solution is quite simple: A public platform must be created for the purchase, sale and relocation of ID-marked companion animals, where users must verify themselves with a Bank ID or similar. This platform can also be used to register insurance related to the animals. When adopting a new family member via the platform, a requirement can be made for insurance before the animal is handed over to new owners, and that it is registered on the platform. The seller can then be sure that the animal is insured. Health certificates and medical history can also be linked to the platform and the animal’s ID marking, so that the animal’s history follows it throughout its life, even if it is unfortunate enough to be relocated. A bit in the same way as a medical record. Such a system will make it easier for everyone, and a similar system is already in place in Norway. Here it is just a matter of learning from the car industry. When buying a new or used car, you have to take out insurance. The insurance is linked to the registration number and is compulsory. How comprehensive insurance you want is up to you. Last time I checked the legislation, cars were not protected by any car welfare laws. But animals have a law of their own. According to the Animal Welfare Act, animals have an “intrinsic value independent of the utility value they may have for humans”. Why then is liability insurance not required for our companion animals, so that they do not have to suffer because the owner cannot afford or does not want to turn up when the animal needs treatment? We take better care of the car than the dog. The platform will also be able to function as an information platform for new pet owners. To be allowed to adopt, e.g. a lovely puppy, we can require new dog owners to complete an online course on what requirements are placed on you, what needs the new puppy will have, and how you can take care of your puppy in the best possible way. Then you are better prepared for anything that can happen, the puppy will probably get better and you can have many great years together. If you think that an online course is too much to ask of you, responsibility for an animal may not be for you. It is not a human right to own an animal, but it is an animal right to be treated with respect. So: Introduce mandatory ID marking of pets, mandatory insurance and an online platform for adoption, sale and relocation – fully integrated with medical history, owner information and insurance. It will make it easier for owners to keep track, safer for breeders and others to sell their cute little ones, and last but not least: It will be safer and better to be any animal other than human in Norway. Also read:
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Our pets deserve better – Speech
