When it’s time to hit the road, some French people may be tempted to leave their dog or cat alone at home. A legal practice, provided it is left to eat, but not without risk.
What to do with your animal at the time of large departures? While many French go far away from home to rest, the question arises of the pet, which cannot always be taken on holiday. If it is not forbidden to leave your dog or cat alone, it is strongly discouraged.
The duty to look after the animal
The law does not prohibit leaving your pet unattended at home. Only leaving a stray dog or cat on the street is prohibited and can be punished with a fine of 150 euros.
In return, the legislation requires that an owner take care of his animal and that he is offered decent living conditions.
“Every animal is a sentient being. It must be placed under conditions compatible with the biological requirements of its species”, states the Ministry of the Interior.
This includes providing him with “food suitable to his species and in sufficient quantity to keep him in good health” and giving him “a supply of pure and fresh water”. “The animal must in any case have sufficient space and shelter from the weather,” adds the ministry. If these conditions are not met, the owner can be found guilty of “bad treatment” and incur a fine of 750 euros, according to the Ministry of Justice.
Solitude is strongly discouraged
However, all animal welfare associations advise against leaving an animal alone for more than a day, especially when it comes to a dog, an animal that cannot tolerate the absence of company for a long time. The Ethics and Science Animal Law Foundation tells BFMTV.com that leaving a dog alone for more than a day is strongly discouraged.
“He needs to go out, explore his environment, relieve himself,” says Léa Le Faucheur, from the communications department.
If the animal is left alone for too long, it risks both becoming “depressed” and “hurting itself”. “It can scratch until it bleeds, bite itself or destroy its surroundings.”
In the case of a puppy, a little one under 6 months needs to go out to relieve himself every 2 or 3 hours, so it is not possible to leave him alone for more than 8 hours, states the advice site for the care of dogs and cats Le Dalmazine. For an adult, it is difficult to give an exact duration of maximum solitude, because it depends on his habits and his character. However, the site estimates that from 12 to 24 hours a dog will not tolerate solitude well and will need to go outside to exercise and relieve itself.
Be careful that it does not escape
The cat has a more independent character and can tolerate loneliness better. “For a cat, it depends on whether he has access to the outside and whether he has games available,” says Léa Le Faucheur.
However, don’t think you can leave him alone for long. After a day or two, the cat also needs company. The shortest absence is also the best.
The Ethics and Science Animal Law Foundation recommends giving it outside access if possible to ensure it doesn’t escape. Otherwise, he risks ending up in the pound or getting into an accident.
Better keep it
Instead of leaving your pet unattended, if possible try to have it cared for by a loved one who knows your pet and will know how to care for it.
If this is not possible, it is better to contact a professional, the Animal Aid Foundation recommends. There are several options, depending on the association. You can either leave it in boarding with an expert or a foster family, or keep it in your home and turn to a specialized agency that will take care of visiting it regularly, an option that is particularly suitable for cats that “enjoy staying in their usual surroundings and do not need to go for a walk”, according to the Foundation.
If you choose to use a host family, be careful to choose someone who “holds a certificate of animal capacity, permission from DSV to carry out this activity and animal liability insurance”.
