The chicken owner: “Many are concerned” • Suggests larger spaces for pets
The Swedish Board of Agriculture has come up with proposals for new rules for pets, after more research has been published since the new Animal Protection Act came into force in 2019.
Part of the proposal is about increasing the space requirement for pets for pets. It has aroused strong reactions – both from pet owners and industry organizations. Chicken owner Helena Abrahamsson is one of those who is critical.
– We all want our animals to be as good as possible, but the proposal that is now is very large areas that many can find difficult to keep. A family that has some chickens to get their own eggs must build a larger house instead of having three chickens in a playhouse where they get a great place, she says.
She has created a name gathering in protest of the proposal, and hopes that it will lead to the Swedish Agricultural Agency reviewing the referral.
– Very many chicken owners are concerned. What we want to show is that we are many who think differently. If it can be involved and influence, I do not know, but we hope it could be it anyway.
The industry organization: “Disaster”
Cecilia Dannborg Wilson is chairman of the Zoo Industry National Association (Zoorf). She reacted “with dismay” to the referral.
– This will have major effects for Swedish society and pet owners. It is a disaster actually, she says, and believes that many of the union’s members will get rid of their opportunities to have pets if the proposals become reality.
– The proposals that have come are dramatic, we talk about increases of several thousand percent. This will be a class issue. People will not have space or advice to have pets.
Dannborg Wilson also fears that a “black market” will arise as the cages sold today will not be large enough.
The animals that, according to the proposal, should have a greater area to live on:
Birds like domestic hens, letter pigeons, peacocks, quail, parrots and finches
Mammals such as tamillers, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and mini pigs
Reptiles such as snakes, lizards and turtles
Amphibians such as salamanders, toads and frogs
Bone fish like goldfish and cichlids
Source: The Swedish Agricultural Agency
The Swedish Board of Agriculture: welcomes comments
In an email to TV4 News, the Swedish Board of Agriculture writes that they welcome comments on the referral, and that they understand that the proposals mean that some animal owners may need to change their animal husbandry.
“Our intention is, of course, not to prevent either the ownership or sale of pets, but we have seen that the regulations need to be changed because they are so old, they are not adapted to the new Animal Protection Act, nor to the knowledge that exists today about what behaviors and needs the animals need to be able to have an outlet for,” they write.
They emphasize that they have been based on the requirements of the Animal Protection Act in the proposal, and that they have proposed transitional provisions so that the animal owners have two years to adapt their animal husbandry after the regulation has come into force.
So large cage required for your animal
If the Swedish Agricultural Agency’s proposal is approved, several of the rules will enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Here are some examples of how large the livestock the pets should have according to the Swedish Board of Agriculture.
Ground -living bird Less than 25 centimeters: living space indoors of at least 4 square meters, or half a square meter per bird at group holding, plus outdoor space.
Ground -living bird Between 25 and 60 centimeters: living space indoors of at least 6 square meters, or 0.6 square meters per bird at group holding, plus outdoor space.
Budgerigar: Living space of at least 4 square meters, or 1 square meter per bird during group holding.
Tamiller: Living space of at least 10 square meters, or 5 square meters per animal during group holding.
Rabbit: Living space of at least 10 square meters, or 3 square meters per animal during group holding.
Chinchilla: Living space of at least 5 square meters, or 1.5 square meters per animal when grouping.
Guinea pigs: Living space of at least 3 square meters or 1 square meter per animal when grouping.
Gold hamsters and dwarf hamsters: Living space of at least 0.75 square meters or 0.18 square meters per animal during group holding.
Snake Less than 100 centimeters: living space of at least 0.75 square meters or 0.37 square meters in group holding.
Turtle Between 15 and 30 centimeters: living space of at least 4 square meters or 2 square meters per animal when grouping.
Mini pig: Living space of at least 6 square meters, or 3 square meters for group holding – plus outdoor space of 250 square meters, or 50 square meters per animal during group maintenance.
(Source: Swedish Agricultural Agency)