How to report animal abuse and what are the penalties?

The abandonment of a pet, or tamed, or held in captivity, is punishable by 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

Knowingly abandoning the animal in conditions presenting an immediate or imminent risk of death is an aggravating circumstance.

Where the abandonment is committed with aggravating circumstance, the author faces up to 4 years in prison and €60,000 of fines, unless the abandonment has resulted in the death of the animal.

If the abandonment has resulted in the death of the animal, the author may be sentenced to 5 years in prison and €75,000 of fine.

If the owner of the animal is found guilty or if the owner is unknown, the court shall decide on the fate of the animal, whether or not it has been placed in the course of the legal proceedings.

The court may order the confiscation of the animal and provide that it be handed over to an animal welfare association.

The court may also impose the following additional penalties:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• And a ban on engaging permanently or for a maximum period of five years in a professional or social activity if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or commit abandonment.

This prohibition cannot, however, relate to the exercise of an elected office or trade union responsibilities.

The judge may, instead of or at the same time as imprisonment, order that the convicted person complete an awareness-raising course on the prevention and fight against animal abuse.

The maximum duration of the internship is one month. It shall be carried out at the expense of the convicted person. Its cost cannot exceed €450.

The probationary period must be completed within six months of the date of the final sentence, unless the behavior or situation of the convicted person makes it impossible to complete the sentence within that six-month period.

If you witness an act of mistreatment of an animal on the public highway that requires immediate intervention for the survival of the animal, alert the police or gendarmerie.

You can also contact the veterinary services of the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations and/or an animal protection association.

As much detail as possible about the facts and location should be provided for an investigation, with photos or video if possible.

National animal welfare associations and foundations can be contacted by telephone and/or email. Some have set up reporting apps. This information is available on their website.

National animal welfare associations and foundations have a network of informants and investigators in conjunction with the gendarmerie and veterinary services.

If you see abuse on the internet, report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

If your pet has been abused, you can complain. You can contact an animal protection association for advice and assistance.

The act, whether publicly or not, of seriously abusing or committing an act of cruelty against a domestic animal, or tamed, or held in captivity, is punishable by 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

The act of abuse or cruelty on an animal held by a staff member performing a public service mission constitutes an aggravating circumstance of the offense.

The fact ofbe the owner or keeper of the animal constitutes an aggravating circumstance.

The act of abuse or cruelty in the presence of minors constitutes an aggravating circumstance.

Where the offense is committed with aggravating circumstance, the perpetrator may be sentenced to 4 years' imprisonment and €60,000 of fines, unless the facts have led to the death of the animal.

If the abuse or cruelty resulted in the death of the animal, the perpetrator shall be liable to five years' imprisonment and €75,000 of fine.

If the owner of the animal is found guilty or if the owner is unknown, the court shall decide on the fate of the animal, whether or not it has been placed in the course of the legal proceedings.

The court may order the confiscation of the animal and provide that it be handed over to an animal welfare association.

The court may also impose the following additional penalties:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• And a ban on engaging permanently or for a maximum period of five years in a professional or social activity if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or commit the serious abuse or act of cruelty

This prohibition cannot, however, relate to the exercise of an elected office or trade union responsibilities.

The judge may, instead of or at the same time as the imprisonment, order that the convicted person complete an awareness-raising course on the prevention and fight against animal abuse.

The maximum duration of the internship is one month. It shall be carried out at the expense of the convicted person. Its cost cannot exceed €450.

The probationary period must be completed within six months of the date of the final sentence, unless the behavior or situation of the convicted person makes it impossible to complete the sentence within that six-month period.

It is an act of complicity to voluntarily record images of animal abuse or cruelty in any medium by any means. The author of the recording shall be liable to the same penalties as the author of the abuse or act of cruelty, depending on whether or not there is an aggravating circumstance and whether or not the animal has died.

Disseminating the recording of such images on the internet is punishable by 2 years in prison and €30,000 of fine. This does not apply if the recording, possession, dissemination or consultation of these images is intended to contribute to a public debate of general interest or to serve as evidence in court.

If you witness an act of mistreatment of an animal on the public highway that requires immediate intervention for the survival of the animal, alert the police or gendarmerie.

You can also contact the veterinary services of the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations and/or an animal protection association.

As much detail as possible about the facts and location should be provided for an investigation, with photos or video if possible.

National animal welfare associations and foundations can be contacted by telephone and/or email. Some have set up reporting apps. This information is available on their website.

National animal welfare associations and foundations have a network of informants and investigators in conjunction with the gendarmerie and veterinary services.

If you see abuse on the internet, report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

If your pet has been abused, you can complain. You can contact an animal protection association for advice and assistance.

Sexual abuse of a domestic animal, tamed or held in captivity is punishable by 3 years in prison and €45,000 of fine.

When the acts are committed in a meeting, in the presence of a minor or by the owner or guardian of the animal, these sentences are increased to 4 years in prison and €60,000 of fine.

If the owner of the animal is convicted or if the owner is unknown, the court may order the confiscation of the animal and provide that it be handed over to an animal protection association.

The court may also impose the following additional penalties:

• Definitive prohibition on the keeping of an animal
• And a ban on engaging permanently in a professional or social activity if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or commit sexual offenses against the animal.

This prohibition cannot, however, relate to the exercise of an elected office or trade union responsibilities.

It is an act of complicity to voluntarily record images of sexual abuse of an animal by any means and in any medium. The author of the recording shall be liable to the same penalties as the perpetrator of the sexual offenses.

Disseminating the recording of such images on the internet is punishable by 2 years in prison and €30,000 of fine. This does not apply if the recording, possession, dissemination or consultation of these images is intended to contribute to a public debate of general interest or to serve as evidence in court.

Offering or soliciting acts that constitute sexual abuse of an animal, by any means, is punishable by one year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

Making, transporting, disseminating pornographic images involving one or more animals is punishable by 3 years in prison and €75,000 fine if these images can be seen by a minor.

Trading in such images is punishable by the same penalties if the images can be seen by a minor.

The act of willfully killing, without necessity, publicly or otherwise, a domestic animal, tamed or held in captivity, without any lawful activity, is punishable by 6 months in prison and €7,500 of fine.

The court may also impose the following additional penalties:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• And a ban on engaging permanently or for a maximum period of five years in a professional or social activity if this activity has made it possible to prepare or commit the death of the animal.

This prohibition cannot, however, relate to the exercise of an elected office or trade union responsibilities.

The judge may, instead of or at the same time as the imprisonment, order that the convicted person complete an awareness-raising course on the prevention and fight against animal abuse.

The maximum duration of the internship is one month. It shall be carried out at the expense of the convicted person. Its cost cannot exceed €450.

The probationary period must be completed within six months of the date of the final sentence, unless the behavior or situation of the convicted person makes it impossible to complete the sentence within that six-month period.

Hurt or kill involuntarily a pet or animal tamed or held in captivity shall be punished by €450 of fine.

This applies whether the injury or death is caused by clumsiness, recklessness, inattention, neglect or failure to comply with a duty of safety or prudence imposed by law.

If the owner of the animal is convicted or if the owner is unknown, the court may decide to hand the animal over to an animal welfare organization.

If you witness an act of mistreatment of an animal on the public highway that requires immediate intervention for the survival of the animal, alert the police or gendarmerie.

You can also contact the veterinary services of the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations and/or an animal protection association.

As much detail as possible about the facts and location should be provided for an investigation, with photos or video if possible.

National animal welfare associations and foundations can be contacted by telephone and/or email. Some have set up reporting apps. This information is available on their website.

National animal welfare associations and foundations have a network of informants and investigators in conjunction with the gendarmerie and veterinary services.

If you see abuse on the internet, report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

If your pet has been abused, you can complain. You can contact an animal protection association for advice and assistance.