On November 30, 2021, an emblematic law against animal abuse was passed. This Tuesday, a first decree defined the new rules for acquiring a horse and issuing the “certificate of commitment” for masters of cats and dogs.
The law provides in particular for the gradual banning of wild animals in circuses and dolphinariums, the end of the sale of puppies and kittens in pet stores in 2024, better supervision of the sale of animals online and tougher penalties for abuse or abandonment. . But the range of measures is primarily aimed at pets.
Make teachers aware of their responsibilities
One in two French people owns a pet, but each year some 100,000 animals are abandoned. To avoid impulse purchases, a “certificate of commitment and knowledge” will be issued for any holder of equidae on a non-professional basis and for any natural person “who acquires a pet for payment or free of charge”.
This certificate specifies for each species the needs of the animals and the obligations of the holder (identification of the animal, financial and logistical implications of the purchase). For the placement of an animal in a host family, the decree specifies the terms of the “host contract”, which must be signed by the volunteer and any shelter or association having recourse to the placement.
Better management of online ads
Online pet offers should be in a specific section with awareness and information messages. “Ads will be subject to verification [validité de l’enregistrement de l’animal sur le fichier national d’identification] and will include the words “verified announcement”, “said a press release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
The entry into force of these various texts will be staggered from October 2022 to July 2023. Other implementing decrees and orders are expected in the coming months on this major law against animal abuse, in particular on the criminal and harsher penalties.