Animal owner

How your cat or dog can also be a blood donor in France

Blood donations by pets are vital to help treat sick or injured animals. We explain how to sign up your pet

French mayor limits number of animals per household to restrict noise

The decree says people should not keep more than two dogs and can be fined if they have two cockerels

Record animal abandonment in France sparks shock campaign

The heartbreaking ads aim to show how pets feel when their owners ‘disappear’

France imposes new rules to stop rash pet purchases and avoid neglect

New owners are now required to sign a certificate or contract to show that they fully understand the responsibilities, costs, requirements and logistics of owning a pet

Dog found in southeast France after going missing for 10 years

The now-12-year-old dog went missing two years after being adopted by his original owners, and was found more than 300km away by police

Villagers fight to save their local ‘mascot’ deer in southern France

The deer, which is seen in local gardens daily and even allows people to approach it, is facing removal or even slaughter after a resident complained that it was eating flowers

Riding centres in France struggle to find horses

The lack of horses and breeders is particularly affecting riding and horse centres in Dordogne

Dog daycare centre lets visitors sightsee and eat out in Strasbourg

The initiative has won various awards since it opened this year

Shepherd in south of France fined after his guard dogs bite hikers

Unions say multiple attacks were not the shepherd’s fault as he has to keep guard dogs to protect his flock from wolves

New French anti animal mistreatment law to be discussed in Senate

The law aims to reduce pet abandonments and end the use of wild animals in shows in France but MPs and senators disagree on key points

What are the rules for buying a pet in France?

We take a look at the rules for buying a pet in France

Here’s what you need to know about pets and vets in France

People relocating to France, especially from the US, may fear that attitudes to pets and vets are not the same here. Our writer, who owned a cat in France, recalls her mixed experience

$2,000 reward for cat that disappeared somewhere between Nice and LA

The cage in which the cat named Teddy was travelling was found to have been broken during the journey, which connected via Paris Charles de Gaulle 21 days ago

France horse attacks: Owners doubt police figures

Police say 80% of reported incidents against horses since summer were not caused by humans, despite the macabre nature of multiple attacks

French police release sketch of horse attacker

An owner who recently defended his horses against attackers has helped police make a sketch of one of the aggressors. Killings and mutilations of horses are now being reported outside France as well.

French horse owner surprises animal attackers in the night

The horse owner scared away two individuals armed with knives on his property, after they had already stabbed a horse. This comes following at least 15 other macabre horse attacks in France this year.

Another horse found killed with ear removed in east France

The 18-month-old foal was found dead and mutilated in the latest in a series of deadly attacks on horses and donkeys in France.

Why you should consider adopting older dogs

One reader shares her story of adopting an older dog, Sammie, and shares why other dog-lovers should do the same.

Odd sights on French roads: A 400kg bull and tractor caravan

It has been a week of strange sights on French roads, after police reported finding both a Peugeot 206 carrying a 400 kg live bull, and a German tractor pulling a caravan for hundreds of kilometres.

French business leaders support new animal welfare campaign

Three high-profile business founders in France have come out in support of holding a referendum on animal welfare issues - including the end of battery and intensive farming, the use of fur, and animal experimentation.

End animal cruelty and abandonment in France, says MP report

People in France should not be allowed to buy pets “impulsively”, harsher penalties should apply for animal cruelty, and there should be a special hotline to report mistreatment, a French MP has said in a new report.

Brigitte Bardot demands right to keep wild boar as a pet

French actress and animal welfare campaigner Brigitte Bardot is calling on authorities in southwest France to allow a woman to keep a wild boar as a pet. After officials refused permission the boar now risks euthanasia.

Site helps owners plan dog-friendly trips in France

As French residents are encouraged to take holidays in France this summer post-Covid-19, a website is helping dog-owners plan holidays with their pets, sharing dog-friendly listings around the country.

Dog owners in south of France warned of incurable disease

Dog owners in the south of France are being warned against an incurable serious disease - canine leishmaniasis - that is spread by sand flies and mainly present in the Mediterranean region.

Pet owners in France urged to microchip animals

Pet owners in France are being urged to microchip their pets for identification purposes by national associations, as the first National Pet Identification Week begins (June 8-14).

Vet consultations go online

How online vet consultations are saving time and helping pets.

Pets do ‘not need disinfecting’, French vet warns

Pet owners in France are warned that animals do not require “disinfection” from Covid-19, and that washing them in strong cleaning products can cause severe burns, a vet in eastern France has said.

Pets and Covid-19 in France: FAQs and vet care rules

A full list of when it is still permitted to take your pet to the vet in France, receive veterinary care, and how to take care of your domestic pet during the time of Covid-19 confinement - has been published.

Bullfighting ban debated in south of France mayor race

A minority of municipal election candidates in the south of France have called for a ban on bullfighting, as anti-bullfighting groups step up the pressure on politicians to take a stand on the issue.

Cat owners in France risk €135 fine if pet not chipped

Cat owners living in France, beware: you may soon risk a €135 fine and further penalties if your feline friend does not have an identification microchip or tattoo.

In pictures: French student vets help homeless pets

Trainee vets travel to homeless shelters to care for animals

Australian Shepherd is France’s favourite dog...again

The Australian Shepherd has become the French public’s favourite dog for the third year in a row, beating the Belgian Shepherd and new podium entry, the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

French vet students treat homeless pets in free clinic

Students at a French veterinary school have set up a voluntary scheme to offer free veterinary care and treatment for pets belonging to homeless people, or those without the means to pay.

French court fines farmer €8,000 over cow farm stench

A farmer in central France has been ordered to pay €8,000 after neighbours complained about the intense and “unbearable” smell of his cow farm.

French pet owners warned over ‘lost pet’ scam

Pet owners in France are being warned against a new scam that asks owners of lost pets to pay a “ransom to reclaim” their beloved animal, only to find that their pet is still lost.

French minister: ‘Abandoning pets should be punished’

People in France who abandon their pets could soon be punished by law, after a French minister said he believed there should be a law against it.

Escaped black panther owner wanted by French police

Police in northern France are still searching for the owner of a black panther, after the dangerous animal escaped and was spotted wandering around on nearby rooftops.

Situation 'critical' at French animal rescue centres

Available places hard to find as SPA centres reach 'saturation point'

8000 pets 'abandoned in France this summer'

Société protectrice des animaux centres have been inundated ahead of holiday season, president says

Another French cockerel owner fights noise ruling

Three weeks after Maurice won France’s heart, the owner of another noisy cockerel has launched a petition to be allowed to keep his bird, despite a court ruling that it needs to go.

Escaped bison herd killed in southeast France

Decision to shoot 19 animals made for safety reasons, prefecture says

Paris cinema allows pets to attend film premiere

A cinema in Paris has held a movie screening to which animal owners were allowed to bring their pets.

Dog-friendly holidays and activities on rise in France

Holiday destinations and activities that allow owners to bring their pet dogs with them are growing rapidly in France, with the number of dog-friendly establishments and dog-suitable activities on the rise.

Trapped French expat dog finally freed by volunteers

A dog belonging to a British man in Côte-d’Or has been rescued by a team of volunteers after being trapped in a tunnel for six days, despite the official rescue having been called off.

Banned French race horses drugged due to ‘old hay’

Two race horses in the Haute-Loire (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) that tested positive for the banned drug boldenone had the substance in their system due to inadvertently eating old hay, it has been confirmed.

French dog owners ordered to pay for horse accident

The owners of two dogs that inadvertently caused a serious horse-riding accident have been deemed responsible, and ordered to pay €815,000 in compensation and costs, a French court has ruled.

Pets mean pampering at Paris Animal Show

Owners will stop at nothing to get the best of pampering for their pet and the Paris Animal Show had perfumes, beauty serums, cushions and scratching mats – plus hemp-based treats, and treatments to calm animals’ moods and ease their pains.

Rebel Ferré and his chimp’s chateau for sale at €4.7m

The former Lot home of composer, poet and author Léo Ferré and his chimpanzee is on the market for €4,770,000.

French law: can we keep stray dog I found?

We found a stray dog with no ID chip/tattoo, can we keep it? I.G.

French town imposes €200 fine for dog droppings

Dog owners who do not clean up their pets' droppings on the street could now be fined €200 per infraction in one commune in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine.

Pet owners in France warned over missing pet scam

Pet owners in France are being warned of a scam involving a popular online network for finding lost animals.

Paris Aquarium warns of goldfish ‘slow death’

The Paris Aquarium is encouraging goldfish owners to bring their fish to be rehomed in its tanks, in a bid to prevent the popular pets from “dying a slow death” in a small bowl.

Wolf numbers on rise in France despite farmer anger

The wolf population in France is “exploding rapidly”, amid an ongoing plan to boost numbers to 500 by 2023 - despite angry opposition from sheep farmers.

SPA is best breed...

Who’s a good boy? Cannes Palm Dog awards are today

The human stories at the Cannes Film Festival receive huge amounts of attention, but today (Friday May 18) sees the 17th annual Palm Dog awards take place, in recognition of the best dog performer in a film.

Lost dog found at Roissy airport after eight days

A lost and scared dog - originally intended for Vietnamese dog meat - has been reunited with its English owner eight days after it went missing in Paris Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport.

Dordogne pompiers rescue two horses trapped in a pool

Sapeurs-pompiers in the Dordogne have saved two horses from drowning after the animals accidentally fell into an open swimming pool and could not get out.

30 animals evacuated from Haute-Savoie centre

An equestrian centre in the Haute-Savoie has been evacuated, with 30 animals rescued due to concerns over their welfare in the region’s current freezing temperatures.

Normandy woman fights to keep pet fox at home

A woman in the Orne (Normandy) is fighting to win back her pet fox after state authorities confiscated it from her care due to classing it as a “wild animal”.

Haute-Garonne man saved from fire by pet dog

A man living alone in the Haute-Garonne (Occitanie) was saved from a house fire by his own dog, who managed to wake him after flames took hold overnight.

Man finds python in toilet of his Grenoble apartment

A man got a very slithery surprise this week after discovering a 1.5m-long python in the toilet of his apartment in Grenoble (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes).

Paris may soon ban the use of wild animals in circuses

The city of Paris has stated it is working to ban circuses that use animals as part of their acts from appearing in the capital.

Killing of Paris tiger prompts anti-circus protests

The killing of a tiger in Paris that had escaped from a travelling circus has prompted protests and renewed calls to ban circuses from using animals at all.

Dog owners warned after toxic river kills eight dogs

Dog owners are being warned to be vigilant after eight pet dogs died from swimming in toxic bacteria in the Loire river.

Is neighbour allowed to let geese roam onto my land?

Our neighbour allows her geese to roam in her garden and they sometimes enter our garden because it is not fully fenced. Recently, our dog got hold of one and, although the goose was not killed, it was hurt. She asked us to have the dog put down (which we refused to do). Someone told me that legally she has no right to let geese roam free; is this true? V.H.