Since 2008, the Swiss Animal Protection Act protects not only the welfare but also
the dignity of animals. This article explains the concept of the dignity of animals in the context of
the Act. Weighing of interests is applied in a specific situation to answer the question of whether
the dignity of the animal is respected or not. With this method, the strain imposed on the animal
and the interests involved in the situation are evaluated and compared. The seven-step model for
the weighing of interests is explained in detail. How the weighing of interests deals with practical
questions is shown with the example of kangal fish used for therapeutic or recreational purposes.