Do i risk fine if i walk my dog off-lead in france?

Connexionfrance

Do i risk fine if i walk my dog off-lead in france?"


Play all audios:

Loading...

READER QUESTION: I USUALLY WALK WITH MY DOG WITHOUT A LEAD ON AS HE DOES NOT LIKE TO USE ONE, BUT A FRIEND SAID THIS WAS ILLEGAL. DO YOU KNOW IF THIS IS REALLY TRUE? AND IF I BREAK THE RULE,


WHAT IS THE PUNISHMENT? With an estimated 7.5 million pet dogs in France, companion canines are popular, but they are not allowed everywhere in France. In some spaces or situations, having


a lead on your pet dog is mandatory. CAN DOGS BE OFF-LEAD IN TOWNS? Mayors have the authority to order dogs to be kept on leads in their communes, so the rules can vary from town to town.


“Mayors shall take all appropriate measures to prevent dogs and cats from wandering. They may order that these animals be kept on a lead and that dogs be muzzled,” states ARTICLE L211-22 OF


THE FRENCH RURAL CODE. To be 100% sure of the rules in an area, you can check the correct office to contact - by postcode or place name - ON THE GOVERNMENT WEBSITE HERE. Nationally, the


Ministry of the Interior website states that you must keep your dog on a lead if it could represent, or definitely represents, a danger or a threat to people. This is true for any breed,


age, behaviour, or size of dog. Departmental health regulations also stipulate that dogs “may only circulate on public roads in urban areas if they are kept on a lead”. READ MORE: EXTENDABLE


DOG LEADS BANNED IN PARIS SUBURB CAN AN OWNER BE FINED FOR LETTING THEIR DOG OFF THE LEAD? If you do not comply with rules where leads are mandatory, you risk a fine of up to €33 for


non-categorised dogs (dog breeds that are not legally considered dangerous). The fine can rise to €75 for categorised dogs (dog breeds considered to be dangerous). WHICH DOGS ARE CONSIDERED


DANGEROUS IN FRANCE AND WHAT ARE THE RULES? France’s dog categorisation system has two categories, and includes ‘attack’ and ‘guard and defence’ dogs. Categorised BREEDS INCLUDE purebreds


and crosses, namely American Staffordshire terriers (pitbulls), Mastiffs, and Tosa breeds. In most cases, it is illegal to import or breed these dogs in France, and those who do risk a


€15,000 fine. Categorised breeds, as defined above, must always be kept on a lead, especially in public, urban spaces, but also anywhere that they could present a risk of any kind to humans


or animals. Owners must also comply with a set of strict rules (that can be found on the website linked above) in order to keep their dog, including identification, sterilisation, insurance,


and regular behaviour evaluations. IS THERE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ‘OFF-LEAD’ AND ‘RUNNING FREE’? If you are in a dedicated space where you can be certain that you can control your dog's


behaviour and keep them contained, you can let them off-lead. For example, in an enclosed pet play area or an enclosed park space with other dogs, or a private, securely fenced garden. The


dog is ‘free’ and off-lead, but under supervision. On the other hand, letting your dog ‘run free’ outside these kinds of areas is considered to be “leaving your dog unsupervised and


wandering the streets”, as stated in ARTICLE L211-23 of the French Penal Code. The Code states that any dog is “considered to be wandering” if: * When not hunting, guarding, or protecting a


herd, and no longer under the effective supervision of its owner or responsible human * It is beyond the range of the latter's voice or of any sound instrument enabling it to be called


back * It is more than 100 metres away from its owner or the person responsible for it “Any dog left to its own devices is considered to have strayed, unless it was involved in hunting and


it can be shown that its owner did not refrain from doing everything in their power to find and retrieve it, even after the hunting had ended,” the code concludes. If a dog is found roaming


or “wandering”, the owner can be fined. These rules also apply to cats. “Any unidentified cat found more than two hundred metres from a dwelling, or any cat found more than one thousand


metres from its owner's home and not under the owner's immediate supervision,” is considered to be in a state of wandering. “Any cat whose owner is unknown, and which is seized on


the public highway or on the property of another,” is also considered to be in the same state, with the owner potentially risking a fine. CAN YOU WALK YOUR DOG OFF-LEAD IN FIELDS? The


Service Public website states that it is strictly forbidden to ‘let your dog roam’ in ‘cultivated areas’. This includes in farmland fields, forests, meadows, vineyards, orchards, marshes,


and woods; and by streams, ponds, lakes and rivers. This is to protect the dog from snakes or other animals, to protect the wildlife in the area, and to protect private land and crops. A


decree from 1955 states that dogs must be kept on a lead in woods and forests throughout France from April 15 to June 30, as this is typically mating and reproduction season for wild


animals. Contravening this law risks a fine of €750, and even more if your dog is caught hunting animals whilst off its leash. ‘Letting your dog roam’ in these open spaces is defined as the


pet being more than 100 metres away from its owner or responsible person. RELATED ARTICLES SHEPHERD'S GUARD DOGS ATTACK HIKER ON FRENCH ALPINE ROUTE CAN I WALK MY DOG ON HUNTING LAND IN


FRANCE?


Trending News

Predictive evolutionary modelling for influenza virus by site-based dynamics of mutations

Influenza virus continuously evolves to escape human adaptive immunity and generates seasonal epidemics. Therefore, infl...

Lululemon rallies but another athleisure stock is racing ahead of the pack

Lululemon worked up a sweat Thursday, rallying more than 5% after topping quarterly estimates and upping its outlook. Bu...

Great talks with tough topics, abortion pill access

We explore the best ways to have constructive conversations about tough topics with the authors of “Say the Right Thing:...

NEET 2025 Exam: Jumbled Question Papers Spark Students Outrage

NEET UG 2025: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET UG) 2025 examination was held successf...

Natalie portman pregnant at hudson river park

Waterfront walk! Three’s company for mom-to-be NATALIE PORTMAN, who enjoys a stroll though New York’s Hudson River Park ...

Latests News

Do i risk fine if i walk my dog off-lead in france?

READER QUESTION: I USUALLY WALK WITH MY DOG WITHOUT A LEAD ON AS HE DOES NOT LIKE TO USE ONE, BUT A FRIEND SAID THIS WAS...

[withdrawn] sl1 4ha, virtus london 11 limited: environmental permit application advertisement - epr/dp3348qs/a001

Notice SL1 4HA, VIRTUS LONDON 11 LIMITED: ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT APPLICATION ADVERTISEMENT - EPR/DP3348QS/A001 View the ap...

After 25 years of being underground, woman naxal with Rs 5 lakh bounty arrested

After 25 years of being underground, a woman Maoist deputy commander, who carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh on her head, was...

Nikita Roy: Trailer Of Sonakshi Sinha, Arjun Rampal And Paresh Rawal Starrer Fails To Keep Us Engaged

Sonakshi Sinha was last seen on the big screens in Bade Miyan Chote Miyan (2024), which had failed to make a mark at the...

Digg gives videos prime placement with new digg video site | techcrunch

Digg, a service devoted to helping users find and share the most interesting content around the web, has now more formal...

Top