These figures were cited by the SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche newspapers.
“This means that the population looks more closely and reports crimes more consistently,” said Gieri Bolliger, managing director of animal rights foundation Tier im RechExternal link(TIR).
Swiss judges determined that 82% of those tried in 2017 had acted with premeditation; however, they remained lenient.
While the law provides for sentences of up to 360 days, animal torturers were sentenced to an average of 30 days, according to a TIR tally.
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Which animals do the Swiss love best?
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Giraffes, coatis, camels – the Swiss love animals of all shapes and sizes. More than one million pets were registered in 2017.
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Switzerland bans crustacean cruelty
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As part of an overall animal protection reform, the Swiss government has banned the common practice of boiling lobsters without stunning them first.
Petition calls for a ban on circus animals in Switzerland
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A 70,000-strong petition demanding a legal end to the inclusion of wild animals in travelling circuses has been handed in to the Swiss government.
Owners must neuter free-roaming cats, say animal welfare groups
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Swiss animal protection groups have collected more than 115,000 signatures calling for the obligatory castration of cats that go outside.
Initiative launched to end factory farming in Switzerland
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Animal rights groups and environmental organisations launched a popular initiative to ban intensive, large-scale livestock farming on Tuesday.
Veterinary authorities to make more surprise farm inspections
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The new requirements should be implemented in early 2020, the veterinary office said in a press releaseExternal link. The goal is to detect cases of animal cruelty on Swiss farms more quickly, while wasting fewer resources on operations that show no signs of misconduct. In Switzerland, all farms must be subject to a basic inspection…
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In Switzerland, animal welfare groups are launching an initiative to ban the import of animal products obtained via cruel methods.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.