“Pets are not soft toys and their needs must be taken into account. This is what the German Minister of Agriculture, Julia Klöckner, announced on Wednesday when presenting her new bill to protect man's best friend, according to German media Deutsche Welle (DW).
If this law goes into effect, dog owners will have to take their pets out twice a day. For at least one hour each time.
The law would also prohibit owners from letting their dogs tether for long periods of time or leaving them alone all day.
About one in five German households have a dog and more than 9 million dogs are kept as pets in the country, according to DW.
Dog breeders will also be affected by this new legislation. They will no longer be allowed to have more than three bitches and puppies at the same time. The minimum area and maximum temperature of their home will also be regulated.
"Well intentioned but unrealistic"
The German minister said that she was based on scientific research which showed that "dogs need a minimum of activity and contact with environmental stimuli".
“With the current extreme temperatures, we need to make sure that we can avoid suffering for the animals,” said Julia Klöckner.
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"A rule for all dogs is probably well intentioned but unrealistic," Udo Kopernik, spokesperson for the German Dog Association, told German newspaper Bild.
Many dog owners have pointed out that while most dogs should definitely get at least an hour of exercise per day, factors such as age, health, and breed are unique to each canine.
The planned law, which has not yet been voted and no date has been announced yet. If this law passes, it will be applied by the 16 German states (Länder).