ANIMALS According to I-CAD data, more than 9 million dogs are kept in France. However, acquiring such an animal is a moral and financial commitment, and involves compliance with various rules.
Adopting a dog should not be done on a whim. — Ksenia Raykova/Shutterstock
The dog is above all a gifted living being. of sensitivity, as recalled by the Civil Code and the Rural and Maritime Fisheries Code. Welcoming a dog therefore means making a commitment to place it “in conditions compatible with the biological imperatives of its species”. Failure to comply with this obligation and more generally any act of animal abuse constitute criminal offences. A dog cannot be sold to minors under the age of 16 without the consent of the legal representative.
The dog, a protected animal ;
As a domestic animal, the dog benefits from specific protection, being part of the sub-category of pets which includes “any animal of held or intended to to be held by the man for his pleasure”. The European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals of 13 November 1987, ratified by France in 2003, says in the preamble: “Recognizing that man has a moral obligation respecting all living creatures and keeping mind the special bond between humans and pets.”
À this title, according to the aforementioned Rural Code; and the arrest of 1982 relating to; breeding, at custody and to the keeping of animals, any owner of a dog must put the disposition of the animal: balanced and abundant food; a supply of fresh water, changed frequently and in a clean container; sufficient space and shelter from the weather at all times; when outside, a ventilated enclosure over 5 m² on an insulating and clean material, protected from winds, humidity and heat, in addition to a shaded area and, in front of a niche placed on solid ground, a minimum area of 2 m² in hard and impermeable material equipped with a slope for the evacuation of urine; in the event of attachment (prohibited before it has reached its adult size), a collar and a chain of at least 2.5 m or 3 m as the case may be, proportionate to its size. the animal and according to a device preventing its immobilization.
Duties of the owner
Furthermore, in addition to the specific provisions applicable to categorized dogs and under penalty of sanctions, the owner must identify the animal and provide it with the appropriate care. He cannot impose non-curative surgical interventions, other than the docking of the tail, practice however controversial. It can also be advised to take out insurance to cover veterinary costs, but also in terms of liability. Indeed, according to the Civil Code, the holder “is responsible for the damage that the animal has caused, whether the animal was in his care or that it was lost. or escaped”. It will also be advisable to ensure that it does not cause an abnormal disturbance of the neighborhood (see The World of Animals n° 31) and to declare any bite to the town hall of the commune of re° side of the animal’s owner, who will also have to undergo a behavioral evaluation.
Finally, the dog circulating on the public highway, even on a leash, must be provided with a collar bearing, engraved on a metal plate, the name and address of its owner, who also has to shed his droppings. It is also forbidden to let the animal roam, that is to say, to remain out of its supervision, out of earshot or out of sight. more than 100 m from the person responsible for it.
Consequently, if the fact of welcoming a dog into your home can of course be the beginning of a very beautiful story, it is above all an important commitment to ; long-term on many fronts, especially with man’s best friend. It cannot be taken on a whim. It is also not recommended to offer a dog to Christmas (or any other animal), especially without the agreement of the future owner who must on the contrary participate in the choice of this future life companion!
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