Fines for owners of dogs found out alone in south-west France
In one case, the same dog has been picked up five times in one week, authorities say
Dogs found running free will be picked up, and their owners issued with fines
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A commune in south-west France has begun to fine owners of dogs that are left to run wild in the streets, with 18 fines already issued in the past month, authorities say.
The commune of Montpon-Ménestérol in Dordogne first considered the measure in May, and it came into force in September.
The new measure issues fines to owners when their dog or cat is found untethered in the streets and needing to be taken into care.
The fines vary, but there is a minimum of €50 for any case where authorities are required to pick up an animal. Added to this is €15 for each night spent in a kennel, €40 for transportation to the local shelter SPA, plus any veterinary and vaccination costs.
Fines are sent directly to the owner. If the owner fails to pay the fine, the case is handed over to public finance department la direction générale des finances publiques.
“I'm not in favour of repression in the first place, but it's often the same people, they are repeat offenders,” said mayor Rozenn Rouiller to France Bleu, adding that the same dog had been picked up five times in the same week.
‘Stray’ animals - or owned pets that are allowed to roam free - can cost local authorities considerable money and strain. This is because they often need to be picked up and taken to a shelter, and can even be dangerous, by biting other animals or humans, or causing road accidents.
This costs staff time, not to mention other costs including food and any vet fees.
“When you're an elected official on duty and the phone rings at 2am to go and collect animals, it's complicated,” said Ms Rouiller. “It’s not the aim of a local authority to look after stray animals, but you're forced to.”
Read also: How do I register my pet with I-CAD in France?
Read also: Dog thefts on rise in France: what breeds are being targeted and where
What are the rules for dog owners in France?
Dogs and cats kept permanently in France must be registered on the national I-CAD database. The usual procedure is that during the pet’s first visit to a vet, it is microchipped. The vet then takes care of its registration with I-CAD.
For dogs, this must be done before four months of age, and seven months for cats.
Microchipping can help lost, stolen, and stray animals to be tracked down and found in case they go missing. It also makes it easier for authorities to track unregulated breeders, collect animal population data, and attribute health test results correctly.
Cats and dogs can be identified with a microchip, a tattoo, or both forms of identification. Microchips are the most common form of identification to be offered by vets in France today, and are the only form of ID accepted if you wish to travel with your pet (unless your pet has a tattoo that was done before July 2011).
Pet identification microchips are around the size of a grain of rice, and are inserted under the skin of an animal in the neck or between the shoulder blades. Each microchip contains a code with 15 numbers that can be identified by an electric reader.
Microchips are biocompatible, non-magnetic, non-electric, and do not affect the health of animals. They must be inserted by a registered vet. The procedure costs around €40-€70 depending on the veterinary practice owners choose to use.
More information on microchipping in France, and the I-CAD pet identification database, is available on the official website Identifier-mon-animal.fr.
