Document type : written answer published in Journal officiel de la République française
Author: Alexandra Martin (Les Républicains - Alpes-Maritimes). Answer: Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Question: Mme Alexandra Martin draws the attention of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty to the number of pet abandonments that can be expected as summer approaches. France is the unfortunate record-holder for pet abandonment. Every summer, the number of pet abandonments in the run-up to the summer holidays arouses concerns for shelters over a significant rise in resident numbers. It is estimated that around 60,000 pets are abandoned at this time of year, bringing the annual total to 100,000. Unfortunately, 2022 was no exception. The French Society for the Protection of Animals (SPA) records that it took in 44,199 abandoned animals, including 27,940 cats, 13,373 dogs, and 2,726 other types of companion animals (other small companion animals), whose abandonments are up 34% since 2019, along with 160 equines. 2022 almost equalled the 2019 record. SPA staff explain that this rise is partly due to the impact of inflation on the purchasing power of pet owners. While voluntary surrenders rose, adoptions also saw a slight increase compared with 2021, of the order of 2.6%. Overall, 41,186 animals found new homes, including 26,024 cats, 12,646 dogs and 2,389 other small companion animalss. However, the balance is still a negative one, leading the SPA to fear that its shelters will quickly become full with the approach of summer. The SPA fears that, like last year, it will not be possible to process many requests from owners to hand over their animals, along with cases of neglect or even mistreatment, for lack of sufficient places in shelters and lack of staff time to give to new abandonments. French Law 2021-1539 of November 30, 2021 to combat animal mistreatment and strengthen the bond between animals and humans did, of course, provide for an end to the sale of puppies and kittens in pet shops by 2024, for better supervision of online animal sales and tougher penalties for abuse or abandonment. As it stands, though, it is not enough to reverse the trend of animals abandoned on roadsides and in shelters in summer. For this reason, many French cities are making preparations for this chronic problem. THe town of Cannes is a case in point, rolling out an intense awareness-raising campaign to combat abandonment every year. Last summer, particularly striking visuals were displayed on some sixty digital billboards to remind adopters of their responsibilities. Only by raising public awareness and increasing support for shelters will we be able to stem the tide of pet abandonment. She therefore asks what action the government plans to take to deal with the prospect of pet abandonment, and what measures it intends to take to support already overcrowded shelters and societies.
Answer: The fight against animal abuse is a priority for the Government, which has undertaken numerous actions to this end in recent years. Law 2021-1539 of November 30, 2021, to combat animal abuse and strengthen the bond between animals and humans, has already made it possible to impose tougher penalties in cases of animal mistreatment. Article 521-1 of the Penal Code has been amended. In addition, the Ministry of the Interior and Overseas France is in the process of setting up a national team to combat animal abuse. Comprising 15 specialized officers (gendarmes, police officers and a veterinarian), this team will handle inter-départemental, national and international cases, such as pet trafficking, working with the National Veterinary and Phytosanitary Investigations Brigade of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. Meanwhile, 4,000 gendarmes are currently undergoing training as part of a national partnership with the French Society for the Protection of Animals, and animal welfare advisors are being appointed in all gendarmeries and police stations. These advisors will also liaise with population protection directorates in the départements, the French Office for Biodiversity and animal protection associations. With regard more specifically to the fight against the abuse of pets, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has undertaken a number of initiatives. In particular, the first Observatory for the Protection of Domestic Carnivores (OCAD) was set up in 2021, bringing together on its steering committee representatives from all those involved with companion animals, including associations, professionals, scientists and representatives of local and national government. OCAD's mission is to issue recommendations on public policy, and it has identified the fight against abandonment as a priority area for action. Its initial work consists of quantifying and identifying the different types of abandonment, as a basis on which to determine future actions to be carried out. In addition, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty has run a wider scheme to improve conditions for companion animals, as part of the French Recovery Plan. A total of 35 MILLION EUROS has been earmarked to combat animal abandonment and improve the conditions in which animals are kept. 29 million euros have been directly allocated to animal protection associations who take in abandoned animals, to enable them to expand or renovate their shelters, or to conduct sterilization campaigns for stray cats and dogs, in partnership with municipal authorities. The care of animals belonging to destitute or homeless persons is also funded to encourage the veterinary care of these animals and, more specifically, to encourage sterilization, as the first step in preventing the abandonment of unwanted young animals. In addition, to optimize the work of animal protection associations, grants are awarded to national associations tasked by the Ministry with training and awareness-raising for local groups.
