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SITUATION IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC - LEGISLATIVE, ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL CONTEXT |
 Historical Background
Before the fall of the communist regime in 1989, protection of living creatures was not an important issue at that time. In education, both at the high school and at university level, animal experimentation was a traditional part of the courses related to the biological sciences. Laboratory animals were readily available and inexpensive, and there was almost no legislation controlling their use or housing, so laboratory animals were easily obtained and used for almost any purpose. There was one exception with the use of wild frogs, which was not allowed because of their being a protected species.8
The political change at the end of eighties brought a fundamental change in society’s attitudes in a number of different areas. The protection and welfare of animals became one such issue. As a result of increased public interest, the media began to address animal welfare topics, and in 1992 the animal protection law was passed.8
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