Acquiring a Rottweiler will soon no longer be possible for Zurich residents. The Council of State has decreed that the brand new specimen of this breed will be banned from its territory, from January 1, 2025. “This decision follows two recent tragic incidents linked to Rottweilers,” he justified, THURSDAY. At the end of October, two children were bitten by a dog which had escaped from an apartment in Regensdorf. Rebelote in December in Winterthur, with an attack on a five-year-old child. In both cases, the bites caused serious injuries.
However, the approximately 350 Rottweilers already owned in the canton will not be evicted. But owners will have to request a detention authorization and take tests in the company of their dog. If these examinations reveal too great a risk of biting, measures, such as the obligation to wear a muzzle, may be imposed. “Rottweilers represent an increased potential danger compared to all other breeds of dogs,” explains the Canton. Euthanasia will only be pronounced as a last resort, specifies the “Tages Anzeiger”.
For Walter Horn, president of the Swiss Rottweilers Club, the decision of the Council of State makes “no sense”. The man believes that it would be more judicious to impose tests on all specimens and their owners, without prohibiting new acquisitions. Same story for Stefanie Ammann, trainer and trainer for future dog trainers. Especially since, according to her, “there is no scientific proof that race is a decisive factor in dangerousness”. The St. Gall cantonal veterinarian also agreed with this, in an interview given to SRF at the beginning of December.
Banned in two French-speaking cantons
With this decision, Zurich is on track to become the third Swiss canton to ban Rottweilers. In Geneva and Valais, the breed is in fact already prohibited. As for the other French-speaking cantons, it is necessary to obtain authorization for detention in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg. Neuchâtel and Jura do not apply any restrictions.
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