Toll free number against mistreatment, evaluation of the behavior of dogs ... A set of measures is proposed Tuesday to the government by a study group of the National Assembly to change the animal condition and empower the owners.
"Create a sort of human rights defender or a State secretariat dedicated to the animal condition"
In a country where one in two French people owns at least one pet, Loïc Dombreval, LREM MP for the Alpes-Maritimes, interviewed nearly 200 people for six months to produce a report of 312 pages and 121 recommendations. "Animal protection is not embodied politically. Only an independent administrative authority can advance animal conditions and animal rights in France," Dombreval told AFP.
He suggests "creating a sort of human rights defender or a State secretariat dedicated to animal conditions, or even an inter-ministerial delegate". It also wishes to launch an internet portal dedicated to animal protection gathering the information essential for future buyers, owners, associations, police, magistrates, prosecutors. To help small shelters and local associations which "considerably lack the means", he advocates the creation of a National Fund, "supplemented by an amount taken from electronic identification (chip) and donations of all kinds".
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A compulsory certificate to keep a dog or a cat
To fight against abandonment, he proposes to set up a compulsory minimum knowledge certificate to keep a dog or a cat, a certificate of ability for an equine, as well as the sterilization of free cats and animals not intended for breeding. . The ban on the sale of dogs and cats in pet stores, in fairs and exhibitions, and on generalist websites is also recommended.
Toll-free number to report abuse
The report finally advocates "a toll-free number for animal protection dedicated to the reporting of acts of mistreatment. And on the criminal side, it suggests" going to 3 years in prison and a 45,000 euro fine ". Animal advocates welcomed "great measures, in particular the prohibition of the sale of animals in pet stores and the sterilization of cats". "Now the government must have the courage to apply this policy and not only to publish reports", reacted Christophe Marie , the spokesperson for the Bardot Foundation.
Bullfighting and animal testing missing from the measures
Jacques-Charles Fombonne, the president of the SPA, however regrets that "bullfighting, animal testing, fur and animal welfare on the farm" were not addressed. As for Reha Hutin, president of the 30 million friends Foundation, she hopes that "the mountain does not give birth to a mouse". All of these recommendations, which also relate to "end-of-life conditions for equines", will "be the subject of careful analysis by the departments of the ministries concerned, foremost among which are the Ministry of Agriculture and "Food", reacted the ministry Tuesday evening.
"They will supplement the announcements made at the start of the year, notably concerning the ban on live castration of piglets or the crushing of chicks at the end of 2021, the strengthening of sanctions in the absence of identification, and the supervision terms of sale of pets, "added the ministry.