Legislation and how you can help
Posted by on Sep 2, 2008 in Association News, Legislation | 2 commentsWe are often contacted by members of the public who are concerned about equines in their locality who are looking for advice and support. To this end, we have developed a Legislation Fact Sheet which can be used to provide the relevant legislation (including details on possible fines) when talking to local authorities and owners.
Recently, we were contacted by a member concerned about an equine near them with an untreated leg wound and untrimmed feet. We were able to talk through the best course of action and send them the Fact Sheet which they used to talk to the local Maire and the owner. The great news is that this persuaded the owner to not only microchip the animal but also to ensure that the wound was treated and the feet were trimmed. They have now sought advice about the upkeep of the animal which is a very positive step forward.
A gentle prod to the owners to be more responsible for their animals is often a good starting point when it comes to welfare problems. The legislation is out there to protect animals in France, it’s the enforcement that is often lacking.
Issues covered by the law include neglect, cruelty, abandonment, causing death or injury, unsuitable living conditions and deprivation of food and water. Even having an equine without a microchip is a contravention and can carry a fine of up to 450 €.
Please contact us admin@equinerescuefrance.org if you would like us to supply information on animal welfare legislation.
The fact sheet sounds very interesting, would it be possible to make it available for people to download?
Hi Craig,
This is something that we have debated amongst ourselves. We are asking people to contact us as we would like to understand how the fact sheet is being used and also how effective this approach is with the local authorities. We can then follow through and see what else we can do to make it even more effective / useful. Unfortunately, with just a download, we would be unable to talk directly to anyone who is using it.
It is important that we monitor the response of local authorities to cases brought to their attention as this will help us have meaningful discussions on how to improve the situation in France. Every case study helps us to understand how best to improve equine welfare here.