Protection of animals

If you witness an act of animal abuse, you can report it online

Publié le 12 octobre 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

The Ministry of Interior has set up a form on its website that allows you to report a sudden act of violence or deprivation of care to the gendarmerie or national police for the duration of an animal’s life.

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Image 1Crédits: Pixabay.com

Inflicting ill-treatment on a pet or a tamed or captive wild animal is prohibited. Among the acts considered to be animal abuse:

  • depriving an animal of food and water;
  • leave an animal unattended in case of illness or injury;
  • place and maintain an animal in a habitat or environment that may cause suffering, injury or accident;
  • use, except where absolutely necessary, restraints, fencing or any form of confinement that are unsuitable for the animal or likely to cause injury or suffering.

To protect the abused animals, the Ministry of Interior made available on its website a form allowing you to make a confidential and anonymous report if you have witnessed an incident that constitutes animal abuse. In particular, you are asked:

  • the condition of the animal (lean, sick, injured or dead);
  • whether the person complained of is a professional or an individual;
  • describe the facts as accurately as possible to guide investigators in their investigations.

In an emergency or ongoing situation, it is best to call the 17.

Please note

anyone who willfully and needlessly inflicts ill-treatment on an animal, publicly or otherwise, is liable to a fine of €750. The court may also decide to entrust the animal definitively to an animal protection association.

Serious abuse and cruelty are punishable by 3 years in prison and a €45,000 fine. The law of 30 November 2021 to combat animal abuse and strengthen the link between animals and humans has also created aggravating circumstances, including:

  • committing such acts in the presence of a minor;
  • abandonment of the animal in conditions presenting an immediate or imminent risk of death;
  • where serious abuse or cruelty is committed against an animal held by officials in the exercise of public service tasks.

Agenda