The President signed the Law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals.” Experts discuss what's wrong with this document

On December 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals.” Deputies adopted this project eight years after its introduction, literally a week earlier. The Federation Council approved the document, although not all senators agreed with the provisions of the law.

“Takiye Dela” explored the pros and cons of the new law with a zoologist and animal rights activist, and also found out whether a culture of careful and responsible treatment of animals has been formed in Russia at the level of not only specialists and activists, but also owners and breeders. Do they know that their pets can have psychological problems, just like people, and do they understand that if difficulties arise, they can not throw out or give the animal away, but solve the problem with the help of a specialist?

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Why couldn’t the law be passed for so many years?

The issue of regulating the interaction between people and animals in Russia has long been lobbied by activists and animal rights activists. Until recently, there was only Article 245 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (cruelty to animals).

The draft law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals” was submitted to the State Duma eight years ago, passed the first reading, after which it remained without movement. In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin called for speeding up work on a bill on the treatment of animals.

“The lack of norms and rules in this area is fraught with a deterioration in the sanitary situation, and in some egregious cases it results in cruel, inhumane treatment of animals, ” he said then.

Then, in July 2017, then-chairman of the State Duma Committee on Ecology Olga Timofeeva explained that difficulties in passing the law arose due to a clash with three lobbies: feed manufacturers, manufacturers of euthanasia drugs and hunters, who opposed the ban on contact baiting stations .

in Russia animals are faceless units

In the fall of 2017, animal rights activists went on a two-week hunger strike at the entrance to the State Duma demanding the adoption of a law. But they returned to the draft only in December 2018 and adopted it immediately in the second and third readings, and literally in a couple of days. It prohibits killing animals, setting them against each other and against people, promoting violence against them, as well as keeping wild animals as pets (owners who purchased wild animals before January 1, 2020 will be required to register them, although a registration mechanism has not yet been developed , and care for them “until the natural death of such animals” - TD ). Petting zoos in shopping centers, as well as cafes and restaurants with animals, were banned. The new law also defines the rights to keep pets, even obliging owners to clean up after their animals while walking.

On December 21, the law on the responsible treatment of animals was approved by the Federation Council, although the head of the committee on constitutional legislation, Andrei Klishas, ​​proposed rewriting it. According to the official, the document introduces “legal chaos.” On December 27, Vladimir Putin signed the law.

“The law does not provide for a positive part, it consists entirely of prohibitions”

Irina Novozhilova, president of the Vita animal rights center, called the new law superficial and a compromise, noting that animal rights activists fought for every point of the original draft, which was proposed in 1999. According to the interlocutor, it collected all the most progressive norms from the laws of different countries and provided for the regulation of all five areas of human use of animals: killing for meat, killing for fur, killing for experiments, use in entertainment and attitude towards companion animals ( they are pets. - Approx . In 2000, this bill was rejected, and in 2008 it was completely withdrawn from consideration.

“Russia was very slow and did not adopt a law on animal protection for a long time. The thought was to immediately accept what is in the world. For example, circuses with animals are banned to one degree or another in 50 countries, and 33 countries have banned testing of cosmetics on animals. In terms of the overall level of protection of animal rights, we are at the very end of the line - on a level with Pakistan and Ethiopia, ” Novozhilova emphasized.

The president of the Vita center had quite a lot of questions regarding the adopted law “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals.” For example, a clause prohibiting the killing of domestic animals. According to Novozhilova, it is not clear how at least this clause will work if a mechanism for limiting breeding has not been developed.

“A person must sterilize an animal, but where is the lever? How should he do this? What if it doesn't? All over the world there is a tax for an unsterilized animal: if you breed it , you pay a lot of money,” the expert commented . She added that while in Europe and America a register of all animals is strictly maintained, and information comes from shelters, breeders' clubs, veterinary clinics and vaccination stations, then in Russia animals are faceless units.

Novozhilova called the wording banning petting zoos “slippery.” Zoopsychologist Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Associate Professor of the Russian State Agrarian University-Moscow Agricultural Academy named after K. A. Timiryazev Marianna Gladkikh, in turn, noted that the law does not explain where the animals will be sent after the disbandment of such zoos. They definitely won’t survive in the wild, so we can only guess about the fate of these animals.

“The paradox is that this law in many points does not provide for a positive part, but only consists of prohibitions. For example, it is indicated that something cannot be done, but there is no information about what should and can be done in this case,” said the zoopsychologist .

Gladkikh also gave an ambiguous assessment of the clause on compiling a list of “dangerous breeds of dogs”, the owners of which will be obliged to walk their animals only with muzzles and a collar.

“I wouldn’t talk about dangerous breeds. The International Canine Federation stands on the principles that all breeds should be social, they should not show aggression towards humans. The dog must be adequate and have a normal psyche. Even if a person adopts a poodle and does not raise it, this poodle can also be dangerous. It often happens that people who keep large dogs take care of them and think about the safety of others. But the owners of small dogs do not raise their pets, they allow everything and walk with them without a leash, ” the animal psychologist concluded.

According to her, it is easier to create the following approach: if a person gets a dog, then he and his pet must undergo training and receive a certificate. As Gladkikh clarified, most countries have special standards - social tests. The dog goes through two parts of training: basic obedience control (for example, the commands “Near”, “Sit”, “Lie down.” - TD ) and interaction with other people, including on bicycles or with runners, and with other animals.

Novozhilova believes that such a list is needed. It should include those dog breeds that were bred for aggressive traits and intended for fighting. As an example, she cited the experience of England, where four breeds were outlawed: pit bull, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu and Dogo Argentino. The president of Vita noted that the authorities tried many times to approve the list of dangerous breeds in Russia, but they always clashed with the interests of breeders.

“People haven’t learned to treat animals as anything other than property”

Both experts agreed that, despite the existence of a law on the responsible treatment of animals, people themselves - animal owners have not learned to behave competently with their pets.

Until now, commerce remains the prevailing interest of many people, Novozhilova believes. There are more and more breeders, while animals intended solely for breeding are under enormous stress. “For the most part, people have not learned to treat animals not as property, ” the animal activist commented.

If people take an animal for pennies, then throwing it away is easy

Gladkikh also believes that the culture of interaction between humans and animals is just emerging. And if earlier, when an animal was quite expensive and there were difficulties with food and maintenance, people were more responsible about purchasing a pet, but now access is open to any breeds and any types of animals.

“There is no responsibility of owners for animals. If people take an animal for pennies, then throwing it away will not be difficult. And, for example, in Germany, where all animals are microchipped and it is not difficult to determine their owner, a huge fine is imposed for throwing a pet away, ” added Gladkikh.

The expert divided the main problems faced by pet owners into three blocks. The first is unfulfilled expectations. As the expert said, people often think that kittens and puppies need attention and training and that you need to be patient with them.

“The so-called series syndrome often occurs, when after “Game of Thrones” everyone started buying huskies because they look like wolves, or after the movie “The Mask” everyone went for a Jack Russell. When people get such dogs, they don’t understand that these are very specific dogs. You need to walk with them a lot, play, and spend time with them, because they are energetic breeds, ” the expert noted.

The second set of problems is the animal’s bad manners. Owners either start training late or don’t do it at all, allowing the animal literally everything, says Gladkikh. As a result, while the pet is small, its behavior does not cause much discomfort, but already in adulthood bad manners become a problem.

The third class of problems identified by the animal psychologist is the incorrect interpretation of the behavioral characteristics of the animal.

“For example, they let a little girl out for a walk with a big dog, although we prohibit dog walking with children under 14 years old. Suddenly, a boy the same age approaches this girl - and the dog rushes at him. It seems as if the dog is to blame. But she didn’t do anything reprehensible, because for animals, especially large and pack animals, protecting the weaker member of the pack is a normal reaction. There is nothing to correct here, except that you should not let your child go with the dog. Situations often unfold in such a way that for us some behavior of a pet is unacceptable, but for this type of animal it is normal. Not just for dogs. People without special education attribute their own requirements and motivations to animals, and this leads to misunderstandings, ” Gladkikh emphasized.

“Animals, like people, often need help”

Animal psychologists can help animal owners understand their pets. As Gladkikh said, these are specialists who determine the manifestations, patterns and development of the animal psyche.

“So far, such a profession as an animal psychologist is not on the state list. As a rule, these are people who have a biological or zootechnical education. But it is best when people have a psychological education and then an additional biological one. The very word “animal psychologist” has become very fashionable; all people who are simply involved in training animals began to fall under it,” explained Gladkikh. One way or another, animals, like people, often need help, she believes. And if the owners cannot cope on their own, then it is better to contact a specialist rather than immediately throw the animal away or take it to a shelter.

The same applies to wild animals that live with people as pets. Gladkikh spoke out against keeping wild animals at home, but if a person has already acquired one, then it is better to involve a specialist in working with the animal, preferably a biologist who deals with a specific species.

“It all depends on what kind of animal, at what age it came into the house and what behavioral reaction is typical for it. For example, reptiles do not need humans at all. If we are talking about large animals, naturally, there may be problems. We must understand that this is not a domesticated animal; humans cause stress to it. In addition, each species is specific: some hibernate, others are eerie individualists, ” Gladkikh added.

Before adopting an animal, regardless of whether it is wild or domestic, it is better to talk to specialists, a zoopsychologist recommends. Experts will tell you where there may be problems, and there can be a lot of them. When it comes to pets, it is important to choose a good breeder who will always keep in touch and advise if difficulties arise. And even better, says Gladkikh, before purchasing, talk to the animal, take a closer look, and only then finally decide whether to purchase it or not.