Pets

Some of these animals were used as food, others helped people with their work or were used in war etc. Animals, namely pets, have played an important role in the life of almost every person. Usually dogs, cats, rodents or reptiles are kept as pets. Generally they have a position of a best friend, but there may also be exceptions. Situations may occur where a pet becomes dangerous for his owner, for example in case of rabies.

According to Animal Protection Act a pet is an animal, kept for personal entertainment or company. The legal measures for pets apply also for animals trained for special tasks, for example to accompany a blind person, assist police or rescue service.

The animal keeper is required to provide his animal, taking into consideration his species and age with: 
1) proper amount of food and drinking water; 
2) proper care; 
3) proper microclimate and room or building, satisfying the need for moving as is characteristic for the species; 
4) any other matters necessary for animal health and welfare. 
Use of any means or equipment that can injure animals is prohibited in animal keeping.

Unacceptable action against an animal is defined as an action causing its perishing, injury, pain and avoidable physical or mental sufferings, like enforcing the animal for efforts beyond his limits, arranging animal fights, abandoning the animal or leaving him in a helpless state, breeding activity that causes suffering and any other activity of similar consequences, which is not due to medical treatment of the animal, other veterinary measures or emergency situation, except the cases, noted in section 1 of § 10 of Animal Protection Act and animal testing complying with the present legal requirements. Stray pets can often cause problems to the society. They disturb other people and animals, they spread infections and pollute the surrounding environment. Almost every time such cases are caused by an inconsiderate keeper of the animal, consciously disregarding the established animal keeping instructions.

As noted in sections 1 and 2 of § 12 of Infectious Animal Disease Control Act, animals without an owner and animal neglected by the owner (hereinafter: stray animal) are required to be caught and returned to the owner or to find a new owner for them. If the owner of a stray animal cannot be identified and no new owner can be found, the animal should be executed, as established in § 18 of the present law. The period between the starting moment to try to identify the keeper of the animal and execution is required to be at least two weeks, during which the animal has to be supplied with required care and necessary treatment. 
Catching, keeping and execution of stray animals and destroying their carcasses is required to be arranged by the local government on their territory.