宠物权利法案

Pets May Get Own "Bill of Rights"

Less than two years after European Human Rights1 were incorporated into British law, steps are underway to give pets their own "bill of rights" aimed at guaranteeing them a minimum quality of life. The Sunday Times newspaper reported that Elliot Morley, Member of Parliament, will outline proposals to update animal welfare legislation that dates back to 1911. The weekly broadsheet2 said that under the proposed rules, pet owners could be prosecuted if they failed to give dogs, cats and rabbits what they needed ?nbsp;including adequate food and water, enough space and companionship. "We have an obligation to treat animals in the way that a civilized society expects," Morley is quoted as saying. A cartoon accompanying the front-page article depicts a gerbil addressing its human master from inside a cage: "I demand to speak to my lawyer."

1．《欧洲人权公约》于2000年10月2日正式成为英国法律的一部分。

2．broadsheet：指版面大、风格严肃的“大报”，与tabloid（小报）相对。《欧洲人权公约》编入英国法律还不到两年，宠物的“权利法案”就已被提上议事日程，目的在于保障它们的最低生活质量。据《星期日泰晤士报》报道，议员埃利奥特·莫利将草拟相关提案以更新早在1911年制定的动物福利法律。这家严肃的周报说，按照他提出的规则，未能
满足狗、猫、兔子等宠物的需要——包括充足的食物和水、足够的空间和友谊——的宠物主人将被起诉。报纸援引莫利的话说：“我们有义务按照一个文明社会所期望的方式去对待动物。”这篇头版文章配发的一幅卡通描绘了一只笼子里的沙鼠，它正在对主人说：“我要跟我的律师谈谈。”

Remarks：此法不具可操作性，因为其实质是想使宠物永远成为宠物，而“pets”最终往往会变成“pests”——尽管人对动物的感情有时会比他/她对其他人的感情还要持久。