The Saeima1 has adopted andthe President has proclaimed the following Law:Animal Protection LawThe ethical obligation of humankind is to ensure the welfare and protection of all species of animals, because every unique being is in itself of value. A human being has a moral obligation to honour any creature, to treat animals with empathic understanding and to protect them. Without a substantiated reason no one is permitted to kill an animal, to cause it pain, create suffering or to otherwise harm it.Chapter IGeneral ProvisionsSection 1. The following terms are used in this Law:1) animal owner – a legal or natural person, who owns an animal.2) animal keeper – a person in whose custody and care is an animal;3) welfare – the totality of endeavours ensuring the physiological needs of an animal;4) euthanasia – painless killing;5) animal sanctuary – a specially equipped place for the boarding of seized, stray, confiscated and ownerless animals, as well as animals which are in need of ass...