There's always been a danger you might get bitten by an angry animal.

In Switzerland, there could soon be the added worry that you'll be sued by one too.

The country votes in a special referendum today to decide whether to allow animals to be represented before the law.

Protection groups say animal lawyers are a vital way of ensuring that any abuse is properly punished.

But opposition campaigners warn it could be a serious strain on the country's legal system.

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.