Treatment of animals

[Mame]

Hopefully later on this year we will be moving from Spain to Brittany.
Much as I have enjoyed my time here the thing that has always upset me is the treatment of animals, especially the abandonded dogs in the village who are starving and have been badly treated.
I am hoping that this will not be the case in Brittany, can anyone tell me how the French treat their animals.

[minesthechevy]

'The French' treat their animals just like 'the Spanish' or 'the brits' or anyone else for that matter. Its impossible to generalise.

You WILL see things that aren't done the way you want them to be - and you'll interpret that as cruelty if you have a mind to.

You will see domestic cats and dogs in perfect health and treated as family members - and you'll ignore that if it upsets your interpretation of the rest that you see.

It's so-called 'human nature' to be cruel, if you don't like it, return to the UK but before you do make sure that you get fully briefed by RSPCA, PDSA, Dogs Trust, et al, on the levels of animal cruelty that exist there.



Best regards,

the chevy, feeder of 5 cats 7 dogs and soon to be X hens as well.

[Bevdeforges]

While Minesthechevy is right about human nature being the real determinant factor, I have noticed some cultural differences in how animals (especially pets) are treated in various countries.

In France, dogs are generally supposed to be on leashes when they are outside their own property - or in the country, under voice control of their owners while out walking. The custom of fencing or walling off individual yards in much of France makes this easy and generally if you find a dog out wandering on his own, he's lost or abandoned. The problem of dog, um, "poop" on the streets and sidewalks used to be legendary in much of France, but the situation has improved greatly in the last few years - at least in the Paris region.

Cats are free to roam at will, but do tend to get abandoned if they become an inconvenience or when their people move. It's not uncommon for people to leave their cats to fend for themselves outdoors while the family is away on holiday (including when they are gone for a month in the summer). But it's also common for people to feed their cats outside - which means Kitty shares his dinner with the neighborhood cats and local hedgehogs.

To answer the question, though, the standards for treatment of animals are different here than what you may be used to from either the UK or the US. But if you're interested, there are lots of associations you can join that are dedicated to animal welfare.
Cheers,
Bev

[twiglet09]

I know exactly what you mean. I have been in Bulgaria for last couple of years and animal cruelty there is awful. Stray dogs everywhere. Puppies just dumped, no neutering, dogs chained up in all weathers and never let off to run around, no shelter, only water and bread if lucky, 40 degrees heat in summer and minus 20 in winter. I am now considering a move to France and have been in French Alps for a couple of months and whilst maybe not typical 'rural' France, so far not seen any problem with strays and village dogs all run around perfectly happy.

[kirikara]

I would agree that standards can be different. Although it really does goes both ways no matter and is just a matter of what the local culture understands as cruelty. While I agree with all the above from Bev regarding cats free to roam and some people leaving outside while on holidays (something i never aggreed with), I was also suprised to find that in the US most people declaw their cats for practical reasons (no torn furnitures). A custom that to me seems like very cruel and fairly uncommon in Europe.
Bottom line, there is no one country that is just plain cruel and the other one that istreating animal the "rigth" way... I think all have flaws.
And like with any other subject regarding expatriation, education is the solution. Know the culture and understand where you are going before leaving...Research, learn, etc...

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by kirikara

I was also suprised to find that in the US most people declaw their cats for practical reasons (no torn furnitures). A custom that to me seems like very cruel and fairly uncommon in Europe.

Declawing a cat is just plain illegal in many countries in Europe. Most folks I know are appalled to discover it is possible to have it done at all in the US.
Cheers,
Bev

[angeletta50]

We live in Brittany with four dogs and agree that one can't generalise regarding the treatment of animals by their owners. However, we can comment on the superb service, treatment and much lower cost of Vetenary help. We have two old dogs who need regular care and drugs and have found both the cost of consultations and drugs to be considerably lower than the UK. Just three weeks ago, one of our younger dogs fell 8ft down an old German bunker and broke four ribs. She now has fluid on the lungs. We have found the care and attention given to her to be outstanding and the cost of xrays, ultrasound and general interest in making her well, to be far in excess of the service we received from our own or any other vet in the UK. I have costed the difference in treatment so far and its at least 25% less. More importantly, the affection shown by all the vets and their attendants has been heartwarming.

[Matou]

The standards may be different but I can tell you for sure that generally the French do love their pets. For instance on the French TV you have a show called "30 millions d'amis" (30 millions of friends) which targets pets lovers and this show is running since 1976 and it remains a favourite of the locals. To keep generalizing, in France there is probably a lesser trend to treat animal like kids, which migth be considered as an excess. Cruelty to animal is a criminal offence with a possible penalty of 2 years of prison and/or a € 30,000 fine (Art. 521-1 Criminal Code) a possible 10 years penalty and/or € 100,000 fine applies for illegal animal research.

[Bevdeforges]

Originally Posted by Matou

Cruelty to animal is a criminal offence with a possible penalty of 2 years of prison and/or a € 30,000 fine (Art. 521-1 Criminal Code) a possible 10 years penalty and/or € 100,000 fine applies for illegal animal research.

I'm a member of an association that rescues stray cats, and the president of the association has tried on numerous occasions to have charges pressed against certain individuals who have abused their animals in some way - often for animal abandonment.

She reports that it is very difficult to get a judge to rule against someone due to the severity of the punishment prescribed by the law. It's one of those "French contradiction" situations, I guess. The law is quite strict - but applying the law can be difficult in specific cases.

All that said, I am in much the same situation as the other poster who sang the praises of her French veterinarian. I find our local vet to be just super - very sympathetic and not excessive in putting an animal through pointless or expensive tests or treatments when it won't change the outcome.
Cheers,
Bev

[sun flower]

Originally Posted by Mame

Hopefully later on this year we will be moving from Spain to Brittany.
Much as I have enjoyed my time here the thing that has always upset me is the treatment of animals, especially the abandonded dogs in the village who are starving and have been badly treated.
I am hoping that this will not be the case in Brittany, can anyone tell me how the French treat their animals.

Hi my name is Di, and we experianced the same in Spain, one thing that got me was when driving it was as if they went out of there way to hit them.
But now i have lived in Asia and Thailand out here its worse, my friend has run a Dog rescue centre and only her friends like Brits, French etc have helped and an odd Thai. The things she has seen would never be seen in the UK even by a vet, you would think in a Buddhist country they would have more compassion. We now live in a more authentic part of the country so it is a lot better thank goodness. But my friend has had enough and is going to leave but she has found homes for the dogs she cant take. Hope you enjoy France as my experience compared to Spain is they are better and i am sure as an animal lover you will find a place to support even in a small way they do such good work and very rewarding. Take Care Cheers Di