Antoine Goetschel
Antoine François Goetschel (born 1958) is a Swiss lawyer who has focused on
Career
Goetschel serves as the animal advocate for the
In 2011, the office of Zurich animal advocate was abolished and the canton veterinary office took charge of animal cruelty cases. Goetschel plans to continue to advocate for animal rights causes by writing books on the subject.[3]
Notable cases
Most of Goetschel's cases involve abuse of domestic pets, such as the case in which he secured a large fine against a woman who abandoned two kittens shortly after purchasing them.[2] Goetschel has represented a variety of animals during his tenure as an animal lawyer, however. In February 2010, he argued on behalf of a pike that was caught by an angler. He made the case that the amount of time the angler had spent fighting the fish caused the fish to "suffer excessively."[2] Although the court ruled against him, he is currently appealing the judgment. He has also prosecuted on behalf of fish that were used in a game show episode in which contestants attempted to catch them by hand, arguing that the contestants did not treat the fish with the dignity they deserved. He ultimately lost the case on a technicality.[2]
Animal rights
Goetschel became interested in animal rights at age 23 after an accident left him temporarily unable to speak. This experience caused him to reflect on
See also
References
- ^ a b Hickman, Leo (5 March 2010). "The lawyer who defends animals". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Ball, Deborah (6 March 2010). "Scales of Justice: In Zurich, Even Fish Have a Lawyer". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
- ^ Ellner, Susanna (16 December 2011). "Die Stimme der Tiere verstummt". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 5 February 2011.