I. Food and water

1. It is my right to eat at least once a day food that is suitable for dogs and in sufficient quantities for my weight, age, and breed.

2. It is my right to be fed in a way that does not cause me stress that other dogs will take away my food.

3. It is my right that my food is served in a clean, dry dish or similar container and not poured directly on the floor or the ground.

4. It is my right to have access to clean and sufficient water.  My water bowl or similar container should never be empty.  It should also be emptied and rinsed at least once a day.

II. Living Space and Living Conditions

1. It is my right to be in a space where people or other animals who may want to harm me cannot do so.

2. It is my right to not be allowed to leave my space without human escort in order to not put myself or others at risk (e.g., that my living space is fenced).

3. It is my right to have enough space, depending on my age, my size, and my breed.  As a general rule, I should have at least 25 square meters (e.g., if I share an enclosure with 3 other dogs, this space should be at least 100 square meters).

4. It is my right to not be housed in the same space with dogs which may be aggressive towards me or who threaten or intimidate me.

5. It is my right that dog excrement is removed at least once per day from my living space.

6. It is my right to have a personal shelter (e.g., a dog house) inside my living space which provides cover from rain, snow, wind, and which is elevated from the ground to prevent rain water from entering (note: this right does not apply if I live indoors)

7. It is my right to have access to shade inside my living space to be protected from the sun (note: this right does not apply if I live indoors).

8. It is my right to have human contact every day even if only for a few minutes.

9. It is my right to be walked outside my living space for at least half an hour, at least once a week (unless not indicated due to my age, health, or aggressive behavior).

10. It is my right not to remain chained for more than two hours a day and only for specific reasons (e.g., while my living space is being cleaned, to provide stress-free feeding for other dogs in my living space).

11. It is my right to always wear a collar that bears a metal identity tag with my name and the name and contact information of my foster or shelter in order to be returned in case I get lost.

12. It is my right to be housed alone if I am aggressive to other dogs.

13. It is my right to not be housed with dogs of the opposite gender if I have not yet reached an appropriate age to be neutered.

14. It is my right to have my living space supervised by a human 24/7 if I am in a shelter or large foster facility.

15. It is my right that my living space remains accessible even in inclement weather, so that my continued access to food, water, and veterinary care are ensured.

III. Medical treatment

1. It is my right to have access to veterinary care and to visit the vet at least once a year for a checkup.

2. It is my right to be visually inspected daily by my foster or shelter staff for any obvious signs of disease (e.g., if I have an obvious wound, or exhibit strange behavior).

3. It is my right to be transferred to a veterinarian within 24 hours if I get sick.

4. It is my right to receive preventative medical care including vaccinations, medication to prevent heart worm disease, and protect from fleas and ticks.

5. It is my right to have full medical records in a safe place that is readily accessible by my vet and other interested parties (e.g., my sponsor).

6. It is my right to be neutered at the appropriate age by a vet.

7. It is my right to be micro chipped with the information of my foster or shelter.

8. It is my right to not be left outdoors but to be transferred indoors if my health requires (e.g., due to illness, post-op recovery).

IV. Adoption

1. It is my right that my foster or shelter and other volunteers who care for me to do everything possible to find me an appropriate family.

2. It is my right, if I am aggressive, to receive training and be socialized before I am put up for adoption.

3. It is my right to receive basic training so that I am better prepared for life in a family.

4. It is my right to have my name, my picture, and my biographical data posted on the internet so that families interested to adopt can discover me.

5. It is my right that my future family has been properly reviewed before I am given to them for adoption.

6. It is my right that my adoption is governed by an adoption contract and that my foster or shelter retains the right to be informed of my progress and well being on an annual basis to ensure compliance with the terms of the adoption contract.

V. Other

1. It is my right that national laws and European law governing animal welfare are observed.