Keeping of animals subject to authorization

Which wild animal needs a permit?

In addition to ferrets, chameleons, game, poisonous snakes and giant snakes, there are still quite a few wild animals that are subject to licensing. An exhaustive list can be found in Art. 89 Tierschutzverordnung.

What needs must be fulfilled?

On the website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO can be found an overview that details the individual needs of different wild animals in terms of exercise, employment, food, water, care and social contacts and provides comprehensive information on the requirements to be met. FSVO - Home and Wild Animal Care

Does it require specific training?

If animals in private pet and wild animal husbandry are cared for exclusively by the permit holder, minimum training must be demonstrated for certain wild animals. The training must be completed in recognized organizations. Offer of recognized trainings and information on the training obligation / keeping of pets and wild animals

What is the procedure?

The permit application must be completed in full and submitted to the Food and Veterinary Office along with the necessary supporting documents. 

The acquisition or takeover of the animals may not take place until the appropriate permit has been obtained.

What is considered commercial wildlife?

Following are the animal husbandries that are considered to be commercial according to Art. 90 Tierschutzverordnung :

• zoological gardens, circuses, transit parks, wildlife parks, small zoos, dolphinariums, aviaries, show aquariums, show terrariums, animal shows with a fixed location, as well as similar facilities that either can be visited for a fee or can be visited without payment, but are operated in conjunction with commercial establishments such as restaurants, retail stores or recreational facilities;
• Establishments in which wild animals are kept or used commercially for medical treatment, for the production of eggs, meat or fur, or for similar purposes;
• Farms in which wild animals are bred for hunting or fishing

Not considered to be commercial keeping of wild animals:

• Holding tanks for freshwater food fish in the catering industry;
• individual aquariums for ornamental purposes, even if associated with commercial establishments;
• Holding quail of the species Coturnix japonica, provided that no more than 50 adults are kept

What needs must be fulfilled?

On the website of the Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office FSVO can be found an overview that details the individual needs of different wild animals in terms of exercise, employment, food, water, care and social contacts and provides comprehensive information on the requirements to be met. In addition, the specifics of commercial wildlife management are outlined. FSVO - Heim- und Wildtierhaltung

What training is required?

According to Article 85 Tierschutzverordnung, wild animal husbandry requiring a permit must be under the responsibility of animal caretakers. If only one group of animals with similar husbandry requirements is kept, it is sufficient if the responsible person has a subject-specific non-professional training (FBA). 

Offer of recognized trainings and information about the training obligation / keeping of pets and wild animals

What is the procedure?

1. Complete the required training
2. Preparing the appropriate housing facility (enclosure, terrarium, etc.). The minimum requirements, which are defined in the Tierschutzverordnung, must be taken into account in this mandatory 
3. Fill out the permit application completely and send it to the Food and Veterinary Officer together with the necessary evidence. 

The acquisition or takeover of the animals may not take place until the appropriate permit has been obtained.

Potentially dangerous dogs within the meaning of Article 2a (1) (b) of the Act are dogs of the following breeds:

• a) American Staffordshire terrier;
• b) bull terrier;
• c) Cane Corso;
• d) Doberman;
• e) Dogo Argentino;
• f) Fila Brasileiro;
• g) Mastiff;
• h) Mastin Espagnol;
• i) Mastino Napoletano;
• k) Presa Canario (Dogo Canario);
• l) Rottweiler;
• m) Staffordshire bull terrier;
• n) Tosa;

2) Equated to the dogs under paragraph 1 are:

• a) dogs of the pit bull type;
• b) dogs from crossbreeding with dogs of the breeds referred to in paragraph 1 and those of the pit bull type;
• c) the group of dogs whose members are similar to representatives of the breeds referred to in paragraph 1 and the dogs referred to in paragraph 2 letters a and b in external appearance and whose other breed affiliation can not be proven.

3) The special leash requirement and the muzzle requirement under Article 6a paragraph 1 of the Act shall apply to dogs under paragraphs 1 and 2 only after completion of the ninth month of life. 

Information:

References: 

The submitted application for the expertise examination with the associated documents will be reviewed by the Food and Veterinary Office. If there are no objections or further clarifications are necessary, you will receive the invitation to the examination of expertise.

The examination of expertise is a written examination in multiple-choice procedure. It covers the following areas in particular: 

• Basic knowledge of dog ownership 
• Learning behavior of the dogs
• Legal aspects   

A thorough preparation for the exam is recommended. For this purpose, we recommend the study of relevant literature by well-known expert authors on the topics of basic knowledge and learning behavior, such as.B.: Günther Bloch, Jean Donaldson, Dr. med. vet. Renate Jones, Martina Nagel, Clarissa v. Reinhardt, Turid Rugaas, Heinz Weidt, etc.

In addition, they should know the provisions of the Hundegesetz, the Hundeverordnung and the chapter "Haushunde" of theTierschutzverordnung.

The granting of the holding permit takes place only after successful completion of the expert examination. Without a permit, the dog may not be taken over.

Note: The holding permit is issued specifically for one dog and does not authorize the holding of further potentially dangerous dogs.

Potentially dangerous dogs are subject from the completed 9. month of life to the special leash obligation and the muzzle obligation.

By completing the social compatibility test, the dog can be exempted from the special leash and/or the muzzle obligation. The test essentially covers the following areas: