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THE SMART NEWS SOURCE | Feb 10 2012 05:09 | LAST UPDATED Feb 10 2012 05:09 |
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Swiss animal lovers have founded a political party to represent the interests of their four-legged friends, Swiss news agency ATS reported on Sunday. The Animal Party Switzerland was established on Saturday with an economist, a lawyer and the head of the Swiss vegetarian union as founding members, said the agency, quoting Thomas Maerki, who heads the new party. The party -- which plans to contest elections next year -- has set up a page on Facebook with the slogan "because animals need a voice," and a pledge to "represent the interests of animals in politics and the economy." Switzerland boasts strict laws protecting animals. It is illegal to flush goldfish alive down a toilet, and owners of some animals such as budgies and hamsters must guarantee that the animals have social companions. Even sheep and goats must have at least a "visual contact with their fellows". Earlier this year, enough signatures were collected to force a referendum on whether abused animals should be assigned lawyers. In the end, the initiative failed to muster a majority of votes. -- AFP  CONTINUES BELOW TOPICS IN THIS ARTICLE
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