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ANIMAL

French police warn of jail terms for people who abandon their pets

French police are warning pet owners that they face a possible prison term and fine of up to €30,000 if they abandon their animals.

Published: 7 June 2019 11:08 CEST
French police warn of jail terms for people who abandon their pets
In France 60,000 pets were abandoned last summer. Photo: AFP

Last summer a total of 60,000 animals were abandoned in France, with many found in a pitiful and half-starved state.

This year the Gendarmerie national has launched a publicity campaign telling people about the alternatives available if they are no longer able to care for a pet.

 

Police have also warned pet owners that abandoning an animal is classed as an act of cruelty, which under French law has a maximum penalty of two years in prison or a €30,000 fine.

Police have teamed up with animal welfare organisation 30 Million Amis to launch the campaign, which they hope will discourage people from abandoning pets.

Last summer animal shelters across the country reported that they were buckling under the strain of the number of abandoned animals.

Financial difficulties was the main reason that people gave for no longer being able to look after a pet.

Member comments

  2. “Financial difficulties was the main reason that people gave for no longer being able to look after a pet.” And yet homeless people in Paris have their pets next to them?

  3. French Riviera Animals help thousands of animals each year. They are a charitable organization and pay for vet fees and meds and transportation to safe shelters. They qualify foster homes and all who are adopting pets. They are funded through donations and volunteers. Sometimes the older owner dies or has been taken to hospital , but alas there are many abandoned, many of those are no longer wanted or “useful” hunting dogs. So sad. This group is really trying to help. Check out their website.

  4. There is also a significant problem, at least in rural areas, where owners just let their dogs roam wild. My neighbour has a Great Dane, which has attacked at least 7 other dogs in our commune whilst roaming free, and, now a cross breed which is a lovely dog, but has an amazing ability to scale 2m high walls, and terrifies our cats. The Mayor writes letters and the Gendarme visit now and again, but he does not do anything about it. he laughed when I told him his dog had viciously attacked our, much smaller dog. I despair.

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ANIMAL

Paris authorities to shut down bird market over cruelty concerns

The Paris city council on Wednesday agreed to shut down a live bird market operating in the historic centre close to Notre Dame cathedral, responding to rights activists who called it a cruel and archaic operation.

Published: 4 February 2021 11:37 CET
Paris authorities to shut down bird market over cruelty concerns
Photo: AFP

The bird market on Louis Lepine square in the centre of the French capital has long been a fixture in Paris, operating close to the famous flower market.

But Christophe Najdovski, Paris' deputy mayor in charge of animal welfare, said that the market was a centre for bird trafficking in France while conditions for the birds were not acceptable.

“This is why we are committed to changing the regulations to ban the sale of birds and other animals,” he said.

The closure had been urged by activists from the Paris Animals Zoopolis collective who had called the practice of showing the caged birds “cruel and archaic”.

France and Paris have in the last months adopted a series of measures aiming to show they are at the forefront of efforts to protect animal welfare.

The government said in September it planned to “gradually” ban mink farms as well the use of wild animals in travelling circuses and dolphins and orcas in theme parks.

Parc Asterix, which normally has some two million visitors a year, announced last month it would close its dolphin and sea lion aquarium.

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