This is a big step forward that Wallonia has taken in terms of animal welfare. A new decree will contain rules that must be respected so that the breeding of dogs and cats takes place with respect and the well-being of these animals.
The importation of puppies and kittens for resale will soon be banned. The goal? Prioritize quality businesses in Wallonia. Most puppies come from eastern countries, more or less 7000 a year and often in poor health.
It is exactly 1eh July 2023, that this ban enters into force. Good news for Sébastien De Jonge, director of ASBL ‘Sans collier’. “Thanks to the reform, it may be easier to find them a new home” he explains.
Céline Tellier, Wallonia’s minister for animal welfare, explains: “We also require that the animal be kept together with other similar animals, in order to also work on the animal’s sociability“.
This reform of animal welfare, expected for several years, contains several measures. First of all, the size of the cages, which must be larger, as well as mandatory training for at least one person per refuge from 2026.