Dog owners reminded to keep their pets on a leash in Swiss forests

Dog owners, used to letting their pets run free in Swiss forests, have been reminded that restrictions are in place in several cantons for the next few months to safeguard wild animals who could fall prey to dog attacks.

Statistics show that 570 wild animals – 88% of which are deer – have been killed by dogs in the last five years in the canton of Zurich, with young deer, who are unable to flee, being easy prey.

Dogs on leads became mandatory in the canton of Zurich at the weekend and will last until the end of July.

In Neuchâtel, keeping dogs on a lead will be compulsory from April 15 to June 30. In Fribourg, Geneva and Vaud, the ruling applies for a longer period; from April 1 to July 15. 

In Geneva alone, more than 10,000 dogs are registered, leading to the city’s authorities creating and renovating several dog parks in the city last year. In total, there are 13 designated enclosed areas and 13 more open areas are now available for dogs to run off-leash. 

 

 

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