[Animal protection law in progress]

Animal welfare is a very important part of the ethical fundamental order of a Society. The main features of the laws concerning animal welfare are discussed, considering the deficiencies of their execution in Switzerland and Germany. In the following the actual political effort at changing the Swiss laws to the effect that animals will no longer be considered as objects is described. Of late, the Swiss constitution protects the "dignity of creatures". This is discussed in the context of genetically engineering with animals and plants. The question whether animals (should) have rights is followed by a description of participation and litigation rights of animal protection groups in Switzerland. Recently, this important demand has got carried through indirectly in the canton of Zurich.