Preamble

The states are members of the Council of Europe signatory hereto acknowledge that the goal for the Council of Europe is to attain greater unity among its members, Understanding that human beings have a moral obligation to be respectful of the living things around them and keep in mind that pets are in a unique relationship with human beings; considering the significance of pets in enhancing the high quality of life, and their importance to society and recognizing the challenges that arise from the wide range of animals being kept by people; Considering the dangers caused by the overpopulation of pet animals in terms of health, hygiene, and safety of humans and other animals and considering that keeping wild animals as pets should not be encouraged. Be aware of the diverse conditions that determine the purchase and the keeping of breeding, both commercial and not breeders, as well as the disposal and trading of pets. Be aware that pets are not always maintained in conditions that promote their health and well-being. Noting that the pet animal attitudes differ widely, often because of a lack of awareness, and recognizing that a norm of behavior and conduct that results in responsible pet ownership isn’t just a desired goal but also a viable objective, have been able to agree on the following Chapter I General rules Article 1 Definitions 1. My pet animal is any animal that is kept or planned to be kept by a person, specifically in his home, for enjoyment or companionship.
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2. Trading in pets is the term used to describe all commercial transactions in large quantities conducted for profit and require the transfer in ownership of pet animals. Three commercial breeding, boarding, and breeding, is the term used to describe breeding or boarding mostly to make money and in large amounts. 4. By sanctuary for animals is a non-profit establishment that allows pets to be kept in large quantities. If the law and administrative regulations permit it, establishments can allow straying animals. 5. By”stray animal,” it meant one that does not have a home, is out of the reach of its owner’s home, or isn’t under the direct control or direct supervision of any owner or the keeper. Competent authority means the authority entrusted by the state of membership. 2. Scope of application and implementation 1 Every Party commits to taking the necessary steps to provide the full effect of the rules of this Convention regarding pets kept by a legal entity within any household or in an establishment that is used for trading, commercial breeding, boarding and grooming and animal sanctuaries, when appropriate, animals that wander off. 2 Nothing contained in this Convention does not affect the use of other instruments to protect of animals or for conservation of endangered wild species. 3 This Convention does not affect the right of the Parties to take stricter protection measures for pets or use the rules in this Convention for different categories of animals that have yet to be mentioned explicitly in the instrument. Chapter 2 – The Principles of the Care of pets Article 3 – Fundamental Rules for animal welfare 1. One should not cause a pet animal unnecessary pain or suffering. 2 No one shall abandon the animal they love. Article 4 – Care 1 Whoever keeps pets, or has agreed to take care of them, is accountable for their welfare and health. 2. Any person keeping a pet animal or caring for it must provide shelter care and attention that are by the ethological requirements of the animal in keeping to its breed and species and breed, including a provide it with adequate and appropriate water and food; giving it ample opportunities to exercise; and employ all reasonable measures to stop its escape.
ETS 125 – Protection of Pet Animals, 13.XI.1987
3 An animal can only remain in a household when the conditions mentioned in the paragraph above are satisfied or, regardless of these requirements being fulfilled, cannot adjust to captivity. Article 5 Breeding Every person who decides to purchase an animal as a pet for breeding is responsible for paying attention to the anatomical, physical, and behavioral characteristics that could compromise the health and safety of the offspring or female parent. Article 6 – Age restriction when purchasing a pet animal: No pet animal should be sold to anyone under sixteen years old without permission from their parent or any other individuals responsible for parental responsibility. Article 7 – Education. No pet animal is to be taught in a manner that harms its welfare and health, particularly by forcing the animal to surpass its capacity or strength or employing artificial means that cause injury, distress, pain, or suffering. Article 8 – Commercial breeding, trading, and animal sanctuaries, boarding 1. Any person who, as of the date of entry into the force of this Convention or is engaged in trading or commercially breeding, boarding pets, or operating an animal sanctuary should report this to the authority in charge within a reasonable time to be set by each party. Anyone who plans to take part in any of these activities must declare their intention to the appropriate authority. 2 The declaration should specify the type of pets that are involved or expected to be involved, b the person who is responsible and the knowledge he has and experience; c details of the place and the equipment that will be utilized. 3 The activities mentioned above can be conducted only when the person responsible is competent and knowledgeable for the job, either due to an education or training program in the field or has enough experience working with pets b. if the location and equipment used to carry out the activities meet the conditions set in Article 4. 4 The responsible authority will decide based on the declaration made by paragraph 1 if the conditions laid in paragraph 3 have been met. If these requirements are not met, they will recommend steps and, if required to protect the animals, stop the beginning or continuation of the operation.
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5 The authority in charge shall conform to the country’s laws and ensure that or not the conditions mentioned above are observed. Article 9 – Entertainment, advertising shows, entertainment, competitions, and other similar events Pet animals should not be used for events for entertainment, advertising competitions, exhibitions, or similar events unless the event’s organizer has set up suitable conditions for the animal to be treated according to the guidelines of Article 4. Paragraph 2. b. The pets’ well-being and health are not placed at risk. 2 No substance shall be administered to, or treatments used on, or equipment used on animals to increase or reduce the performance of its natural levels at a time of competition or at any time it could jeopardize the welfare and health for the animal. Article 10: Surgical procedures 1 Surgical procedures for purposes of altering the appearance of pets or for any other purpose that is not related to curing are not permitted, expressly: a docking of tails, b an ear cropping; devocalization; the declawing and defanging of a pet animal. 2 However, exceptions to this prohibition are only permitted when a veterinarian believes that non-curative procedures are necessary, either to treat veterinary medical issues or to benefit the animal concerned; or to stop reproduction. 3 Operations during which animals are likely to suffer severe pain must be performed under anesthesia only by a vet or under the supervision of a veterinarian. A competent person can carry out a procedure requiring no anesthesia to operate under national law. Article 11 Killing 1 Only a vet or other qualified person is allowed to kill a pet other than in emergencies to end the suffering of an animal in cases where veterinary or additional expert assistance is not available quickly or in a crisis that is covered by national law. The killing must be carried out using the least amount of physical and mental pain proportionate to the circumstance. The method selected, excluding emergencies, must be one of the following:
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It could cause immediate loss of consciousness and even death and death, or the introduction of deep general anesthesia, which will be followed by another step that will undoubtedly result in death. The person responsible for the killing should ensure that the animal has died before disposing of it. 2. The following methods of killing are prohibited drowning or alternative methods for suffocation when they don’t produce the desired effects in paragraph 1. b; using any poisonous substance or drug, the amount and method of application of which is not controlled to produce the effects mentioned in paragraph 1. c; electrocution, unless it is preceded by an immediate the loss of consciousness. Chapter III – Additional measures for animals that are stray of Article 12: Reduction in numbers If a Party believes that the number of homeless animals poses a problem, it will implement the appropriate administrative and legislative measures to decrease their numbers in a manner that does not cause unnecessary discomfort, pain or suffering. These measures must include the requirement that the animals are taken into custody and that it is done in a manner that minimizes the amount of mental and physical pain suitable for the animal; ii. if the animal is killed or kept, it is done in line with the rules in the Convention. Parties are required to think about giving cats and dogs the opportunity to be identified permanently by any suitable method that causes minimal or no suffering for the animal, including tattooing and keeping the numbers in an account with their owner’s names, addresses, and contact information; iii decreasing the breeding that is not planned for cats and dogs through promoting the sterilization of these animals; iii encouraging those who find the stray animal to report the incident to the authority in charge. Article 13 – Exceptions to the capture, keeping, and killing of animals. The principles set out in the Convention regarding capturing, keeping, or killing animals straying from their homes can be considered only if necessary within the framework of national disease control programs.
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Chapter IV – Education and information Article 14 – Education and information programs The Parties are committed to encouraging the creation of education and information programs to raise awareness and education among organizations and people who are involved in the care, breeding trading, training, and boarding of animals for pets of the regulations and guidelines contained in the Convention. In these programs, attention will be paid to the following areas of concern the necessity of the training of animals to be used for competitive or commercial purposes to be performed by those with the appropriate competence and experience and experience; b the need to avoid: pet animal gifts to children younger than 16 without the explicit permission by their parents, or other people with parental responsibility or other responsible persons; ii. giving pets as awards, prizes, or rewards; iii the unplanned breeding of pets and the potential adverse effects on the health and well-being of wild animals if they were purchased or introduced as pets as well as the dangers of unintentionally acquiring pets that result in increasing the amount of unwanted and abandoned animals. Chapter V-Multilateral consults Article 15 – Multilateral consults 1 The Parties shall meet within five years after the date of the Convention’s entry into force. Every five years after that, and in any event, the majority of representatives of the Parties would like to convene multilateral consultations inside the Council of Europe to examine the implementation of the Convention and the possibility of revising or extending some of its provisions. These consultations are held in meetings arranged by Secretary Generals of the Council of Europe. 2. Each Party has the right to nominate a representative to participate in these consultations. Any member state that is a member of the Council of Europe which is not a signatory to the Convention is entitled to having an observer at these discussions. 3. Following each consultation, Parties must provide a report to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe a report regarding the consultation and the operation of the Convention and, when they think it necessary, suggestions for amending Articles 15-23. 4. Subject to the terms of the Convention, the Parties will determine the consultation procedures.
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Chapter VI – Amendments Article 16, Amendments 1 Any modification to Articles 1-14 that any Party or Committee of Ministers proposes shall be transmitted by the Secretary-General to the Council of Europe and forwarded by him to all states that are members that are members of the Council of Europe, to any Party or state that is invited to join the Convention according to the requirements that are contained in the Article 19. 2. Any amendment made by the provisions in the previous paragraph will be analyzed at a multilateral meeting at least two months following the date of its forwarding to the Secretary-General, where it can be approved through a 2/3 majority of the Parties. The adopted text will be communicated to the Parties. 3 12 months following its adoption during an international consultation, any amendment shall come into force unless any is a Party who has expressed objections. The final provisions of the Chapter are Article 17, Signature the ratification of, acceptance of, and approval. The Convention is open to signature by the members of the Council of Europe. This Convention must be ratified, accepted, or accepted. Instruments of ratification or acceptance or approval must be filed in the office of the Secretary-General Council of Europe. Article 18 – Entrance into force 1 The Convention shall enter into force on the 1st day of each month. The convention will be in detail on the 1st day of each month after the end of the period of six months from the date at which four states from the Council of Europe have expressed their agreement to be bound to the Convention in conformity with the provisions of Article 17. 2. In the case of a member state which later gives its consent to being bound by the Convention and the Convention will become effective on the 1st date of each month that follows the expiration of an initial period of six months following the date of acceptance, ratification or acceptance, ratification or approval. Article 19 – Admission of non-member states 1 Following the date of entry into force the Convention and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe can invite any state that is not a part of the Council to join the Convention through a vote made by the majority of votes stipulated by article 20.d in the Statute of the Council of Europe and through the unanimity vote representatives of the States that are Contracting entitled to be members of the Committee of Ministers. 2 In the case of any state that is acquirer the Convention shall come in force the 1st morning of every month after expiry of the time of six months from the date of submitting the instrument of accession to the Secretary General of Council of Europe. Article 20 – Territorial clause 1. Upon signing or depositing its ratification instrument, acceptance, approval, or accession, a State may define which territory to which the Convention is applicable.
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2. Any Partie can, at any time after the date, through a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the scope of application of the Convention for any further territories mentioned by the declaration. Concerning such territory, the Convention will enter into force on the 1st day of each month following the expiration of six months following the date of reception of the declaration by the Secretary-General. 3 Any declaration made by the preceding paragraphs can be terminated through a notice addressed directly to Secretary General concerning any territory mentioned in the declaration. The withdrawal becomes effective on the 1st morning of every month after an expiration period of six months from the date of receiving the notification from the Secretary-General. 1. Article 21. Reservations. When signing or depositing the instrument of acceptance, ratification, or accession, a state may state that it has availed itself of any or all reservations made regarding Article 6 and Article 10 paragraph sub-paragraph A. There is no other reservation that can be made. 2. Any Party making a reservation per the preceding paragraph can entirely or in part withdraw it by means of a written notice addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The withdrawal takes effect upon the receipt of the notification by the Secretary-General. 3 A Party who has issued a reservation regard to a provision of this Convention cannot invoke the provisions of the provisions by any other Party. It can, however if its reservation is conditional or partial or conditional, invoke the provisions of the provision in the sense that it has acknowledged it. Article 22 – Denunciation 1. Any Party may declare its displeasure about this Convention through an announcement addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. 2. The denunciation will become effective on the 1st morning of every month after the end of six months from the date of receiving the notification from the Secretary-General. Section 23: Notifications Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all members of the Council of Europe and any state that has signed the Convention or been formally invited to do by the Secretary General of any signatory or submitting the ratification instrument acceptance, acceptance or admission and c the date of the entry into the force of this Convention according to Articles 18 and 19; 20; and d any other act or notification relating to the Convention.
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In the presence of the undersigned, properly authorized to do so, are a signatory to this Convention. Signed at Strasbourg on 13 November 1987 with the signatures in English and French with identical texts, and as a single copy, which will be placed within the archive that the Council of Europe maintains. The Secretary-General for the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to every member state that is a member of the Council of Europe and any State that has been that is invited to join the Convention.