Lawyer for dog law & animal law – Central in Winterthur

Lawyer for dog law & animal law - Legal support for pet owners & businesses

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Whether owner liability, animal protection or dog laws - we advise and represent pet owners, breeders & organizations in all matters of animal law

Are you looking for a lawyer for dog law & animal law?

Experts for
Animal rights

Are you looking for a lawyer for animal law or dog law?

Our law firm, centrally located in Winterthur, advises and represents clients in animal law, with a particular focus on dog law. We regularly handle cases in this specialized area of law.

In proceedings that are often legally and factually sensitive, you will have a dedicated contact person at your side. We represent clients in particular before cantonal veterinary offices, appeal bodies and administrative courts.

The topics regularly dealt with include official measures against dogs, restraining orders, confiscations, leash and muzzle requirements and proceedings following incidents involving animals.

For new case inquiries, we first conduct an initial meeting. During this meeting, we review your initial situation and discuss the next legal steps.

The initial consultation, including case review, usually takes one hour and is charged at a flat rate of CHF 330.

Contact persons in animal law:

Nathalie Fitzek
Fabian Füllemann
Matthias Fricker

Contact us – we will be happy to advise you.

Lawyer for dog law & animal law

Where are we active?

We advise and represent pet owners, breeders and organizations in legal matters relating to dog ownership and animal welfare. Our work includes, in particular, proceedings before administrative authorities and criminal proceedings in connection with animals.

Bite incidents and liability issues

Legal representation following incidents involving dogs and clarification of liability issues.

Regulatory requirements and sanctions

Challenging measures against dog owners, such as leash or muzzle requirements.

Confiscation of dogs

Representation in the event of official interventions, in particular confiscations or bans on stopping.

Dog ownership and licensing procedure

Advice on licenses, cantonal breed lists and other regulatory requirements.

Criminal proceedings in animal welfare law

Defense in allegations of violations of the Animal Welfare Act.

Trouble with the veterinary office?

Proceedings before the veterinary office often arise in connection with allegations of violations of the Animal Welfare Act or cantonal dog laws. Such proceedings can lead to official requirements, bans on keeping dogs or, in more serious cases, to the confiscation of an animal.

We examine the legal basis and proportionality of official measures. We represent animal owners in dealings with the competent authorities and in appeal proceedings before administrative authorities and courts.

Our work includes in particular the legal examination of conditions and sanctions, the defense against accusations of alleged violations of animal welfare law and representation in proceedings in connection with the confiscation of animals.

Conditions & sanctions

Official requirements or sanctions against animal owners must be based on a legal basis and be proportionate. In practice, questions often arise regarding the legal viability of such measures.

We review decisions made by the veterinary office and represent you in objection or appeal proceedings. In particular, we assess whether the legal requirements are met and whether the measures taken are proportionate.

Our representation includes proceedings against conditions or bans on keeping animals, complaints against the confiscation of animals and representation before administrative authorities and courts.

Bite incidents & liability of the dog owner

A dog bite can have considerable legal consequences for the dog owner. In addition to possible claims for damages, criminal proceedings or administrative measures can also be threatened.

According to Art. 56 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, animal owners are generally liable for damage caused by their animals. Liability is only waived if the owner can prove that they took all necessary care to prevent the damage.

In addition to civil law claims, criminal charges, for example for negligent bodily injury, as well as administrative measures such as a leash or muzzle requirement or the confiscation of the dog can also be ordered.

We check the legal situation and represent dog owners in dealings with authorities and courts.

Procedure for official measures

If official requirements or sanctions are imposed following an incident, it must be checked whether these are lawful and proportionate.

We represent you in particular in proceedings in connection with conditions, bans on keeping dogs or the confiscation of a dog.

Violations of the Animal Welfare Act

Proceedings for alleged violations of the Animal Welfare Act can have considerable consequences for animal owners. In addition to criminal investigations, there is often also the threat of administrative measures by the veterinary office.

Allegations concern, for example, the keeping of animals, allegedly inadequate care or other violations of animal welfare regulations. In such proceedings, it must be carefully examined whether the allegations made are legally and factually justified.

In addition to criminal sanctions, administrative measures can also be ordered, such as conditions for keeping animals, bans on keeping animals or the confiscation of animals.

We investigate the allegations made and represent animal owners in criminal proceedings and in proceedings before the competent administrative authorities.

Lawyer for dog law & animal law

What we do for you

Dog law and animal law are predominantly part of public administrative law. As a rule, veterinary offices and other administrative authorities are responsible for clarifying the facts of the case ex officio and ordering appropriate measures.

In practice, however, incorrect findings of fact or disproportionate official measures occur time and again. This applies in particular to conditions for keeping animals, bans on keeping animals or the confiscation of animals.

We examine the legal basis and proportionality of official decisions and represent animal owners in proceedings before administrative authorities and courts.

Legal review of official measures

Our work includes in particular the analysis of factual findings, the legal review of conditions and sanctions as well as representation in objection and appeal proceedings.

We also check whether authorities have exercised their legal discretion correctly and whether official measures are legally tenable.

Initial meeting – in-depth analysis of your situation

For new inquiries, your dog law solicitor will first conduct a systematic initial consultation. This includes a detailed examination of the factual and legal situation in order to realistically assess the prospects of success of your case.

Duration: 60 minutes (incl. file study)

Fee: CHF 330 (flat rate)

Implementation: Optionally on site in our office in Winterthur, by video call or by telephone.

Structured process

Taking stock of the facts: discussing your personal concerns and recording all legally relevant details.
File review: Analysis of existing documents, official orders and evidence.
Initial legal assessment: Well-founded assessment of your legal options according to the current legal situation and practice.
Strategy & recommendations for action: Highlighting the next steps and making concrete recommendations for the next steps.
Mandating: If necessary, we clarify the conditions for further legal representation and the joint strategy.

Lawyer for dog law & animal law

Animal law issues are often linked to other areas of law

Criminal law

Bite incidents or violations of the Animal Welfare Act can have consequences under criminal law in addition to civil law claims. In particular, if a dog bite leads to injuries or there is an allegation of cruelty to animals, criminal proceedings can be initiated for negligent bodily harm or violation of the Animal Welfare Act. More on this under criminal law.

Contract law

Contractual regulations play an important role in the purchase of animals, in breeding contracts or in liability issues between animal owners. Disputes about defects when buying an animal, rescission of a purchase contract or about rights and obligations arising from breeding or care contracts are often judged according to the rules of contract law. More on this under contract law.

Road traffic law

Accidents involving animals on the road can raise complex liability and insurance issues. This applies in particular to road accidents involving dogs or other animals as well as situations in which an animal causes an accident between vehicles. Such cases are often related to road traffic law. More on this under Road Traffic Law.