What constitutes ill-treatment?

Every animal is a sensitive being and must be placed by its owner in conditions compatible with the biological requirements of its species.

Ill-treatment of domestic animals or tamed or captive wild animals is prohibited.

In particular, the following acts shall be prohibited:

• Depriving an animal of food and water
• Leaving an animal unattended in case of illness or injury
• Placing and maintaining an animal in a habitat or environment that may cause suffering, injury or accident. This is particularly true when the habitat is too small, does not offer weather conditions that the animal can tolerate, or has equipment, installations or arrangements that are unsuitable for the animal
• Use, except where absolutely necessary, restraints, fencing, cages or any form of confinement that are inappropriate for the animal or that may cause injury or suffering

How do I report abuse?

If you witness an act of animal abuse or have spotted content on the internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

In case of emergency or ongoing events which 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 associations or foundations 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 cases of abuse on the internet, also report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

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

What are the penalties?

Anyone who breeds, keeps or holds a pet or wild animal tamed or held in captivity and who intentionally, unnecessarily, publicly or otherwise, abuses him or her shall be liable to a fine of €750.

The police court may decide to entrust the animal definitively to an animal protection association.

Where a trader unnecessarily mistreats or allows to mistreat animals in his custody, he shall be liable to 1 year in prison and €15,000 of fine.

This concerns institutions carrying out the following activities:

• Sale
• Grooming
• Transit
• Custody
• Education
• Dressing
• Private security, surveillance, guarding, physical protection of persons or property
• Pound
• Shelter
• Establishment for slaughter or transport of live animals
• Breeding

The correctional court may order the confiscation of the animal and provide for it to be handed over to an animal protection association.

The court may also impose the following additional penalties on the professional who commits the ill-treatment:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• Prohibition of the exercise of a professional or social activity for a maximum period of five years if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or commit acts of ill-treatment. This prohibition cannot, however, relate to the exercise of an elected office or trade union responsibilities.

The employer institution of the professional, perpetrator of the abuse, shall be liable to a fine of €75,000 and the following penalties:

• Closed permanently or for a period of 5 years
• Confiscation of animals
• Definitive or up to 5-year ban on holding an animal

It is an act of complicity to voluntarily record, by any means and in any medium, images of ill-treatment of an animal.

The author of the recording shall be liable to a fine of €675.

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.

How do I report an abandonment?

If you witness the abandonment of an animal or have spotted content on the Internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

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.

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

What are the penalties?

The abandonment of a pet or wild animal 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 abandonment entails a risk of immediate or imminent death, the perpetrator shall be liable to imprisonment for four years and €60,000 of fine.

If the abandonment resulted in the death of the animal, the author faces up to five years in prison and €75,000 of fine.

If the owner of the animal is convicted or if the owner is unknown, the correctional court 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 order the additional penalties following:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• Prohibition of the permanent exercise, or for a maximum period of five years, of a professional or social activity if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or to 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 awareness-raising course on preventing and combating 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.

How do I report animal abuse or cruelty?

If you witness abuse or cruelty on an animal or have spotted content on the internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

In case of emergency or ongoing events which 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 associations or foundations 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 cases of abuse on the internet, also report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

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

What are the penalties?

The act, whether publicly or not, of inflicting serious abuse or committing an act of cruelty against a pet or wild animal 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 fine.

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 convicted or if the owner is unknown, the correctional court 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 order the additional penalties following:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• Prohibition of the permanent exercise, or for a maximum period of five years, of a professional or social activity if that activity has made it possible to prepare for or commit serious abuse or 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 imprisonment, order that the convicted person awareness-raising course on preventing and combating 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 dies.

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.

How do I report sexual abuse of an animal?

If you witness sexual abuse on an animal or have spotted content on the internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

In case of emergency or ongoing events which 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 associations or foundations 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 cases of sexual abuse on an animal on the Internet, also report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

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

What are the penalties?

Sexual abuse of a tamed or captive pet or wild animal 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 correctional court may order the confiscation of the animal and provide for it to be handed over to an animal protection association.

The court may also order the additional penalties following:

• Definitive prohibition on the keeping of an animal
• Prohibition of definitively exercising 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.

The fact to register voluntarilyimages of sexual abuse of an animal by any means and in any medium constitutes an act of complicity.

The author of the recording shall be liable to the same penalties as the perpetrator of the sexual offenses.

The fact of to make the registration available on the internet such images are 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.

Proposing or requesting acts constituting sexual abuse of an animal by any means shall be punished by one year's imprisonment and €15,000 of fine.

Making, transporting, disseminating images pornography involving one or more animals, by whatever means and whatever the medium, shall be punished by 3 years' imprisonment and €75,000 fine if these images can be seen by a minor.

Doing business such images are punishable by the same penalties if they can be seen by a minor.

How to report a deliberate violation of an animal's life?

If you witness an act aimed at the voluntary killing of an animal or have spotted content on the Internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

In case of emergency or ongoing events which 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 associations or foundations 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 cases of willful harm to an animal's life on the Internet, also report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

If your pet has been the victim of a deliberate attack on its life , you can complain. You can contact an animal protection association for advice and assistance.

What are the penalties?

Unnecessary, publicly or otherwise, willfully killing a tamed or captive domestic animal or wild animal without any lawful activity shall be punished by six months in prison and €7,500 of fine.

The correctional court can also pronounce the additional penalties following:

• Prohibition, definitive or not, on the keeping of an animal
• Prohibition of exercising a professional or social activity for a maximum period of five years 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 imprisonment, order that the convicted person awareness-raising course on preventing and combating 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.

How do I report an unintentional injury to the life or integrity of an animal?

If you witness an unintentional violation of the life or integrity of an animal or have spotted content on the internet, you can alert the gendarmerie or the national police by doing a confidential and anonymous reporting by means of form next:

Report animal abuse

In case of emergency or ongoing events which 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 associations or foundations 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 cases of unintentional harm to the life or integrity of an animal on the Internet, also report it on the Pharos site. The site is run by specialized police and gendarmes.

If your pet has been the victim of an unintentional violation of its life or integrity, you can complain. You can contact an animal protection association for advice and assistance.

What are the penalties?

Hurt or kill involuntarily a pet or wild 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 police court may decide to hand the animal over to an animal protection association.