Other countries have taken steps beyond that of the UK and recognise animals as having dignity. This recognition of animal dignity is enshrined into the constitutions of these countries and provides animals with much higher levels of protection than does the UK approach.
With the kind permission of Antoine F. GOETSCHEL (International Animal Law and Ethics Consultant) - I am reproducing a paper he wrote on this topic below. To whet you appetite before you read the full paper-
"Germany, Austria, Poland, Switzerland and France have taken this first step of recognizing the legal status of animals as a category between objects and human beings. Other states should follow and recognize the high emotional value of the animals in their societies. In order to maintain a higher status of animals in society, these states need to revise their legislation periodically as the status of animals develops."
Unfortunately - in other EU countries; animal welfare legislation scarcely exists at all and where it does exist it appears to be poorly implemented, poorly enforced and widely ignored even by civic authorities. The chaotic, potentially illegal, but certainly misguided and cruel dog-culling in Romania serves to illustrate the point!
Isn't it about time the EU harmonised animal welfare legislation throughout the union - and that it adopted the highest level of protection already seen in countries such as Switzerland (non-EU member), Germany, Austria etc.?
Popular surveys of the importance placed on animal welfare by citizens of the EU indicate it is an issue which enjoys significant support. As such, our EU leaders would simply be enacting the democratic will of the public by elevating animal welfare legislation to be in line with best-practice already seen in some parts of the union and in closely associated countries like Switzerland.
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/welfare/survey/index_en.htm