Pets

People living in a rented apartment may keep small pets, such as guinea pigs, hamsters, canaries or fish. Larger animals (even cats or small dogs) may be prohibited under the rental contract. Animals that are noisy or dangerous may also be forbidden by the lessor. In addition, pet owners must observe animal protection laws. For example, certain animals may not be kept alone (for example rabbits). There are also regulations concerning the size and equipment of cages. Many animals (exotic animals) are not allowed to be brought into the country. Others require a special authorisation issued by the veterinary department.

Canton Basel-Stadt has special legislation concerning dogs. This includes a description of a dog owner's duties. Additional information is provided by veterinarians.

• All dogs in Switzerland must be marked with a microchip and registered in a database. The dog is issued a dog identification (credit card format). This form of identification is not identical to the Pet Passport that is required when people wish to enter an EU country with an animal.
• Dogs must be registered with the canton There is an online form for this purpose and annual fees are charged. Moreover, an obligatory liability insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung) has to be concluded for each dog kept as a pet.
• All dog owners must pick up and dispose of their dog's droppings. Not doing so may result in a fine.
• Several dog breeds require a special authorisation (e.g. pit bulls or rottweilers).
• Dogs are generally forbidden from entering city parks and children's playgrounds. The canton's "mapserver" shows the zones where dogs may run freely and swim.