Dog owners in the United Kingdom could now be placed in jail or could be fined if they put their pets on a vegetarian diet.
The UK’s Animal Welfare Act said that dog owners in the country should make sure that their dogs get a suitable diet and should meet all the nutritional needs of the dog.
The legislation does not mention anything about the type of food that you should be giving to your dog, however, one thing is that made clear is that people should have proper knowledge about the consequences they would have to face in case they change the food that goes into the bowl of their pet.
Daniella Dos Santos from the British Veterinarian Association said:
In the UK, under the Animal Welfare Act the owner has the obligation to feed the animal an appropriate diet. If your personal belief system means you don’t want to eat any animal protein, that’s fine, but that diet is not designed to meet the welfare standards of your pet. It is theoretically possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet, but it’s much easier to get it wrong than to get it right. You would have to do it under the supervision of a veterinary-trained nutritionist.
The thing is, dogs suffer greatly if they are not getting the right amount of nutrients, and the new law in the UK now prioritizes the health of the little ones.
Not only the food, but the new law also says that owners are now required to make sure that their pets are living in a suitable environment.
The people should be exhibiting normal behavior patterns, should have a proper house, should be protected from pain, suffering, injury and diseases along with many other things.
Anyone who is caught breaking the rules, you are going to face a fine of up to £20,000 or even a jail sentence.