Mahatma Gandhi, one of the greatest humanists and philosophers of modern times, once said that the greatness and moral progress of a nation can be judged by the way its animals are treated. That single idea has stayed relevant for nearly a century, and it captures something we all sense deep down: how we treat the creatures who share our world says a lot about who we are.
Today, more and more countries are taking that idea seriously, building real legal protections for animals into their laws. AdmiGram.com rounded up some of the most inspiring — and surprising — examples of animal rights legislation from around the globe.
About Animal Rights in Different Countries
© simon peel / Unsplash
The Netherlands has built one of the most animal-friendly legal systems in the world. High taxes on pet ownership, strict penalties for mistreatment, and large-scale sterilization programs have dramatically reduced the number of stray animals nationwide. Since 2015, the country has also banned the use of wild animals in circuses.
New Zealand officially recognized all animals as sentient beings back in April 2016 — a legal first. Cruelty to animals now carries criminal charges, and animal testing for research purposes is banned.
The United Kingdom passed the world’s first law against animal cruelty all the way back in 1822. Today, UK law extends legal protections to millions of pets nationwide — including dogs, cats, horses, and rabbits — with violators facing steep fines and even prison time.
Germany became the first country to write animal protection directly into its constitution, back in 2002. Euthanizing healthy animals is illegal, pet owners pay a mandatory tax that helps fund a nationwide network of shelters that never turn animals away, and animal welfare is even taught as part of the school curriculum.
Italy takes abandonment seriously: anyone caught abandoning a pet can face at least a year in prison and a €10,000 fine. Euthanizing healthy animals is completely banned. In Turin, dog owners who walk their dogs fewer than three times a day risk a fine of up to €500. Italy has also banned dyeing pets’ fur for cosmetic purposes and selling goldfish in plastic bags.
© Jorge Maya / Unsplash
Austria treats keeping chicks in cramped cages or tying up livestock with tight ropes as criminal offenses. Wild animals are banned from circuses, and walking a dog on a chain or choke collar is illegal. Authorities can remove an animal from its owner in cases of neglect or cruelty, with fines ranging from €2,000 to €15,000.
Spain made international headlines in 2022 when it reformed its Civil Code to legally recognize animals as sentient beings rather than property — a shift that now affects how pets are treated in situations like divorce settlements and inheritance. The change has fueled a broader conversation across Europe about extending similar protections to other animals.
India was the first country to grant dolphins legal status as “non-human persons,” banning dolphinariums and the captivity of dolphins altogether. India was also the first country in South Asia to ban cosmetics testing on animals.
Switzerland has protected animal welfare in everyday legal matters since 2008 — including divorce proceedings, where a pet’s well-being can factor into custody-style arrangements, and injury cases, where the person at fault may be required to cover veterinary costs.
Greece introduced a comprehensive animal protection law in 2012, requiring microchipping and creating a national animal database under the Ministry of Agriculture. Animal cruelty can result in up to a year in prison and fines of up to €15,000, while animal theft carries a sentence of up to six months and a €3,000 fine.
image on top: Jorge Maya / Unsplash
