Legal Regulations / Animal Protection
[Extract from the German
animal protection law]
Basic Principle § 1
It is very important that animals can be well cared for and that a species appropriate keeping is guaranteed. This should not only be observed for tortoises, but for all animals. Should you not be able to fulfill these two points, then you should reconsider buying the animal that you have in mind. Now here is an extract from the German animal protection law.
Keeping Animals § 2
The reason for this law is to make people responsible for their animals as fellow creatures and to protect their lives and well being. No-one is permitted to cause pain, distress or damage to an animal without a good reason.
Bans § 3
Whoever keeps or looks after an animal,
1. Must feed, clean and house it according to the species and according to its needs.
2. Should not confine the movement possibilities needed by the animal that could cause pain or avoidable distress or damage.
3. Must provide adequate food, care and suitable housing and have the knowledge and ability necessary for keeping the animal.
4. Should not demand achievements that are not possible because of the state of the animal or that exceed its strength, except for in an emergency.
5. Should not demand achievements that it is not able to carry out due to an operation or treatment.
6. Cannot have an animal put down unless it is frail, ill, or old at home or at work or otherwise held in the care of humans and cannot live without a lot of pain or distress; this is not valid for the immediate release of an animal to a person or facility.
7. Cannot remove themselves from their keeper or care liability by abandoning or leaving an animal behind that is in the care of humans, whether at home at work or otherwise.
8. Cannot force an animal to eat unless necessary for medical reasons.
9. Cannot use equipment with direct electricity effect that confines the animal in its natural behaviour, especially movement and the animal cannot experience pain, distress or damage as long as this is not admissible by legal directives.
Since 1976, tortoises have been included in the especially protected animal agreement, the Washington Species Protection Agreement, in attachment A. Whoever owns or sells especially protected animals, must be able to prove their ancestry.
Every loss or addition must be proved with photo documentation. This documentation has to be registered with the respective authorities. Tortoises may only be passed on with the so called EG certificate. The breeder must provide the authorities with a breeding line. Furthermore, he must be sure that the buyer can provide the correct housing with specific equipments and has the necessary knowledge.
Photo Documentation
Since the 1st January 2001, there is a registration liability for animals in attachment A. The Authority for Nature Protection and the German Foundation of Herpetology and Terrariums has decided that registration through photo documentation is enough.
How is photo documentation created?
Sit your tortoise onto a squared piece of paper that is labelled with a centimetre rule. Take a photo of the tortoise with its back and stomach shell. The animal should of course be clean and dry. A relative brochure can be ordered from the DGHT.
