The claim

In England, vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs are treated as animal cruelty by law and punishable by fines or prison sentences. The dog can also be taken away from the owner.

Our conclusion

This statement is misleading. The law requires an “appropriate diet.” Vegan or vegetarian diets for dogs are not explicitly mentioned here.

News spread on social media that dog owners in England face severe penalties for feeding their dogs a vegan or vegetarian diet. This discussion is based on interpretations of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and statements from veterinary professionals shared with the public.

With the increasing popularity of vegetarian and vegan lifestyles, one question is now hotly debated: Can or should we feed our four-legged companions meat-free?

Outcry on social media

The claim:
“More and more pet owners are opting for a vegetarian or even vegan diet for their four-legged friends for ethical and climate protection reasons. In England, however, this has criminal consequences. As the British newspaper “The Sun” reports, feeding dogs and cats meatless is considered criminal animal cruelty in England and can be punished with prison sentences, high fines and bans on keeping them. Since 2006, it has been legally stipulated that species-appropriate husbandry also includes “suitable nutrition”. For dogs and cats, the food must therefore also contain animal protein in order to provide the animal with appropriate nutrition. The owners' personal ideologies have no place in animal feeding.

The Sun quoted Daniella Dos Santos, president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA): "If your personal belief system means you don't want to eat animal protein, that's fine, but that diet is not designed to meet your animal welfare standards “To fulfill the requirements of the pet”. It is theoretically possible to feed your dog a vegetarian diet, but this must be done under veterinary supervision. Anything else could cause significant health damage.”

Is that actually the case? To do this, it is necessary to take a closer look at this topic.

Legal framework for animal feeding

In England, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 the legal basis for animal protection. According to this law, animal owners are obliged, among other things, to meet the five basic needs of the animals entrusted to them.

Section 9, especially under point 2b this includes the need for a suitable diet. However, this regulation is not specifically aimed at vegetarian or vegan diets, but generally requires a balanced diet that covers all of an animal's nutritional needs.

Also, owners of dogs are not explicitly addressed here. It's about all animals in the care of humans.

Viewpoints from experts

The debate about a meat-free diet for dogs in England was fueled by a report in The Sun , to which the Facebook post also refers. However, Daniella Dos Santos, then president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA), is quoted here in more detail:

“Theoretically, it is possible to feed a dog a vegetarian diet, but it is much easier to get it wrong than to get it right. You would need to do this under the supervision of a veterinary trained nutritionist.”

The British Veterinary Association also published information on this controversial issue and possible penalties on its website in October 2021 BVA President Justine Shotton said: “Under UK Animal Welfare Act, pet owners have a duty of care towards their animals to ensure their five needs, including adequate nutrition, are met. Animal owners may be prosecuted under the provisions of this Act if they intentionally cause harm to an animal and cause it to suffer by failing to keep it in a species-appropriate manner despite professional advice.”

Vegan/vegetarian dog food

Such rumors and claims generate a large number of comments and user reactions. Comparisons are made with the wolf as a classic carnivore, but dogs have also adapted and developed their diet alongside humans over the course of hundreds of years. They are omnivores, “all-eaters”.

The BVA emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet. Any one-sided diet can lead to deficiency symptoms not only in humans but also in animals. This also explains the concerns about a vegetarian or vegan diet for dogs. Deficiencies in proteins, essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals can lead to serious health problems. Veterinarians therefore warn against transferring personal nutritional philosophies to pets without professional care

Differentiation between facts and misinformation

What is often overlooked on social media is the complexity of the topic. The representation that any vegetarian or vegan diet for dogs is automatically harmful or even punishable is a simplification. It does not correspond to the actual legal situation in England.

Rather, the health and well-being of the animal must be the priority, according to the tenor of the law and the expert opinions. Violations of animal welfare can result in serious legal consequences.

Conclusion: Balanced perspective and balanced diet

Spreading the message that a vegetarian or vegan diet is per se forbidden is misleading. Rather, the need for competent feeding tailored to the individual animal is emphasized. This should be supported by expert advice.

Anyone considering feeding their dog a vegetarian or vegan diet should not do so without seeking advice from a veterinarian or animal nutritionist. It is crucial that the health of the animal is always the focus of any change in diet.

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Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )