When bringing a
new pet into their family people often lack the knowledge and understanding of
its needs, and their duties as its owners. Latvian laws and regulations set up
a number of requirements that the owner of a pet must meet. We frequently get
questions about the basic needs of pets in our daily work, and more vigilant
and well-informed people often observe animal welfare violations.
Unfortunately, we still live in a society where a mouse, a kitten, or a puppy
is a common gift for a child, a friend or a relative. Not everybody knows that
dogs living outdoors must get at least one walk for at least 30 minutes every
day, and mustn’t be kept on a leash if younger than 10 months, while dogs
living indoors must be walked at least twice a day. If a cat is kept inside
house, it must get human contact at least once every two days, while cats over
six months of age may freely access the grounds of their owner’s or caretaker’s
house, provided the cats are sterilised
and vaccinated against the rabies.A number of
Latvian laws and regulations determine the rights and duties of pet owners: the
Veterinary Medicine Law, the Animal Protection Law, Cabinet Regulation 266
‘Animal welfare requirements for keeping and trading in pet animals, for
demonstrating pet animals in public exhibitions, and for training dogs’ of 4
April 2006. In this article, the <a target="_blank" href="https://biovet.lv/en/">BIOVET
veterinary clinic</a> offers a brief overview of both the applicable legal
regulations and useful tips helping the public gain a better understanding of
their pets’ life.<h2>Selling a pet</h2>A dog may be
sold, handing the dog's pet passport over to the next owner:1. Once dog is
eight weeks old, and two weeks after the last vaccination for viral diseases
(if it took place at the age of six weeks), or one week after the last
vaccination for viral diseases (if done at the age of eight weeks);2. Once the dog
is three months old, provided that it has been vaccinated for viral diseases
and the rabies, at least a week after the vaccination.Dog owners and
caretakers must ensure that by the age of four months, the dog is tagged with a
chip, has a pet passport, and is registered in the pet register database of the
Agricultural Data Centre. If the sale involves a dog younger than four months,
the above requirement must be met by the seller by the time of the sale.A cat may be
sold, handing the vaccination record or pet passport (if the animal is chipped)
over to the next owner:1. Once the cat
reaches the age of 10 weeks, one week after the last vaccination against viral
diseases;2. Once the cat
is three months old, provided that it has been vaccinated for viral diseases
and the rabies, at least a week after the vaccination.<h2>Pet parasites</h2>Pets can
contract parasites, both internal and external. Hookworms are the most common
internal parasite, while lice are the most common external parasite. To make
sure that your pet and family are healthy, regularly treat your pet for worms,
and if it often goes outside, for lice and ticks.Worm treatment
is also required 10 days before vaccinating the animal. We recommend repeating
it 2 to 4 times a year, depending on if the pet travels from its home. Many pet
owners believe that worm treatment is not necessary for animals that are kept
indoors and do not go outside; this is not true: both animals and humans can be
carriers of various parasites. Special pastes, pills and drops are used for
worm treatment, while drops, special collars and sprays are used to eliminate
and ward off lice and ticks. The dosage of the
product depends on the animal’s weight. There are also complex drop products
and chewing tablets intended for destroying both internal and external
parasites, and their eggs.When treating a
pet for worms, we also recommend doing the same in the family that owns it.<h2>Vaccinating a pet</h2>Completely
avoiding contact with other animals and carriers of dangerous diseases is
impossible. Protecting the pet from
life-threatening infections is a duty of a good owner. Only clinically healthy
animals may be vaccinated.Based on the
standard schedule, the first vaccination of a pup or kitten against various
viruses takes place at the age of 8 weeks (2 months), and the second
vaccination takes place at the age of 12 weeks (3 months). At this age, it is
also required to vaccinate dogs, cats and ferrets against the rabies, unless
the attending veterinarian sets a different vaccination time, based on the
health of the animal in question. Repeat vaccination should be done in
accordance with the procedure set in the veterinary drug manual (once every 1
to 3 years).<h2> Sterilising a pet</h2> If you are not
planning to use your pet for breeding, we recommend its sterilisation, to
prevent unwanted pregnancy, various diseases, and hormone-induced
inconveniences for the pet and its owner. Sterilisation involves a surgical
operation that completely or partially removes the internal genitalia of the
animal, fully eliminating its capacity for breeding. It is considered to be the
type of contraception least harmful to the health of the animal.The recommended
age for sterilisation is 6 months, though it can be done later.There is also the chemical
sterilisation option: a drug is injected under the skin of the animal,
temporarily blocking the production of sexual hormones. Males lose their fertility
for 6 to 10 months after the injection. Unlike surgical sterilisation, this
process is reversible.<h2>Vet appointments</h2>Ideally, a <a target="_blank" href="https://biovet.lv/en/">veterinarian</a> should meet their patients
professionally only when vaccinating them. However, no one is completely immune
to diseases, and it is important for the animal’s owner to be observant and
present in the everyday life of their pet, knowing its habits and typical
behaviours. There are acute and chronic diseases. <a target="_blank" href="https://biovet.lv/en/">Veterinary assistance</a> should be sought in both
cases, and especially if the animal is injured in an accident, or suddenly
starts behaving in an unusual way, with such symptoms as excessive salivation,
difficulty breathing, frequent vomiting/diarrhoea etc.When going to
the vet, take the animal, its pet passport and/or vaccination record, results
of prior examinations and indicated treatment, if any. If the animal is
to undergo surgery, we recommend not feeding it for 12 hours prior to it.<h2>10 commandments of a pet owner</h2>Laws and
regulations set the following duties for pet owners and caretakers:1. Make sure
that the pet does not disturb the people living in the house or its
surroundings (through odour, barking or howling);2. Only entrust
taking the pet outside the area owned or held by its owner or caretaker to
people who can control and physically manage the animal, and ensure that the
animal is not a risk to humans and other animals;3. In a
populated area, pick up the faeces left by the pet;4. If keeping a
pet is not possible anymore, find another owner for the pet;5. Vaccinate the
pet in accordance with the Veterinary Medicine Law;6. When taking
the pet to a vet, bring and present to the vet an identification document for
the animal, or its vaccination record (if any);7. When handing
a pet over to another person, tell them about the requirements for keeping the
animal and its welfare;8. Keep
documents associated with the pet (its passport, or document certifying its
origin) and present these documents if requested to by public order control and
other agencies;9. If the owner
or caretaker of a pet keeps five or more same-species warm-blooded pets that
are at least six months of age at one address within a city or a village, the
owner/caretaker must report this in writing to the regional office of the Food
and Veterinary Service within seven working days, indicating the
owner’s/caretaker’s name, the species of the pets, their number, the address
where they are kept, and the phone number (if any);10. The owner or
caretaker of a pet may bring their pet outside the area they own or hold,
provided that the pet does not disturb the public, and does not cause threats
to the safety, life and health of humans and other animals.‘You become
responsible, forever, for what you have tamed.’ Antoine de Saint Exupéry

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When bringing a new pet into their family people often lack the knowledge and understanding of its needs, and their duties as its owners. Latvian laws and regulations set up...

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