How to buy or adopt a dog in France

If you have decided to buy a pet dog or perhaps are thinking of giving a rescue animal a new home by adopting one, there are a few useful things to know before you begin.

 France has a number of regulations in place to look after animals’ wellbeing when it comes to buying and adopting dogs as well as to keep the public and pets safe. 

Buying a dog from a breeder or individual 

Dog breeders must be registered in France and will either need to have a registered company with a siret number (which you can check at sirene.fr) or be registered and log puppy litters on the official purebred directory found at CentraleCanine. 

The CentraleCanine website also lets you search for a thoroughbred puppy for sale by breed and department.

Puppies must be at least eight weeks old before they can be bought as any earlier than this is too soon to separate them from their mother.

You are only permitted to buy an adult dog from an individual seller. An individual may only sell one adult dog without being declared as a business as if they own the mother and were to sell puppies they would then be considered a breeder and have to be registered as such.

Adopting a dog from an animal shelter

There are several animal rescue and welfare organisations in France from where you may be able to adopt a dog and give it a new home. 

You can find many dogs waiting to be adopted at Les Amis des Animaux, and la SPA (Society for the Protection of Animals) currently lists 1960 dogs looking for a home. 

The SPA provides training and gentle rehabilitation so that dogs are well behaved and ready for adoption.

The process of adopting a dog usually begins with filling in an application form or adopter profile for the organisation which may be followed by an interview and home visit. 

There will generally be an adoption fee to pay which will cover the costs of vets’ fees such as vaccinations and sterilisation.

You may also be asked to sign an adoption contract, committing to care for the dog for its lifetime and not to resell it but to return it to the shelter if you are no longer able to look after it.

Formalities and certificate of commitment and knowledge

Wherever your new pet comes from, they must first have been microchipped or tattooed and their official identification number registered with I-CAD, the national pet register. 

You should also be given a full list of details including the breed or race name, their date and place of birth, whether it is registered on the thoroughbred log and the breeder’s details if applicable.

The breeder or former owner is responsible for informing I-CAD of the new owner’s details and you will then be sent an identification card for your new pet in your own name.

Whether you buy or adopt a new dog, you will be asked to sign a certificat d'engagement et de connaissance. The certificate is valid for seven days and acts as a cooling off period, giving you time to read through the information it contains and make certain you understand and can provide for the dog’s needs. 

Other documents you will be given with your new pet

Whether you are buying or adopting your new dog, you will also be given several other documents:

• Attestation de cession: transfer of ownership certificate

• Veterinary certificate: this should be less than three months old and give details of vaccinations, sterilisation, European passport number or thoroughbred register if applicable, plus the dog’s identification number and former owner’s details.

• Information document: on the dog’s characteristics and particular needs with guidelines if needed.

Understanding the formalities and requirements for buying or adopting a dog in France can help to ensure you are well prepared and know what to expect during the process.