Eight months after the passage of a landmark law against mistreatment, a first decree, published this Tuesday, defines the new rules for acquiring a horse and issuing the new “commitment certificate” for people wishing to buy a dog or a cat.
This vote on November 30, 2021, which, let us recall, announced the gradual ban of wild animals in circuses and dolphinariums, the end of the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops in 2024, better regulation of online animal sales, and tougher penalties for abuse or abandonment.
Thus, these various provisions will help to preserve and improve the well-being of companion animals and equines by raising awareness and responsibility among owners. The goal is to limit impulsive purchases and improve the knowledge of owners who will have to commit to respecting the needs of their animals.
The first implementing decree of the law specifies in particular:
- the certification procedures applicable to equine holders within a professional activity
- the content (in particular, the needs of the animals and the obligations to be respected by the owner regarding their identification and the financial and logistical implications of the purchase)
- the conditions for issuing mandatory commitment and knowledge certificates, on the one hand, for any non-professional equine holder, and on the other hand, for any individual who acquires a pet for a fee or free of charge
In other words, to prevent impulsive purchases, a “commitment and knowledge certificate” will be issued before any acquisition: on the one hand for any non-professional equine holder, and on the other hand, “for any individual who acquires a pet for free or for a fee.” This certificate specifies the needs of the animals for each species and the obligations to be respected concerning the identification of the animal and the financial and logistical implications of the purchase.
Regarding the placement of a pet with foster families, the decree specifies the essential information included in the “foster contract” for the cat or dog which must be signed by the foster family and any shelter or association that uses placements.
Furthermore, online offers concerning pets will have to be presented in a specific section that will include awareness and information messages. The advertisements will be subject to verification, notably the validity of the animal’s registration in the national identification database, and will carry the label “verified ad”.
The entry into force of these different texts will be staggered from October 2022 to July 2023. Other implementing decrees and orders are also expected in the coming months concerning this major animal welfare law, notably on the penal front.
