Belgian animal rights organisation Gaia has slammed a loophole in Dutch law that allows a dog breeder banned in the Netherlands to operate in Belgium.
The man was forced to leave Eersel, a town in the south of the Netherlands, after being banned from operating there, but relocated his business to Retie, near Antwerp, according to Dutch animal rights organisation House of Animals.
Ann De Greef, director of Gaia Belgium, bemoaned the situation, stating the individual “is exploiting legal loopholes.” She added that, although he has not committed a crime, she would rather see him in court.
The breeder now advertises on a Dutch second-hand-sales site, inviting interested parties to pick up the dogs in Retie.
In Flanders, animal breeders are required to include their formal licensing number in advertisements on such sites, a requirement the Dutchman appears not to have complied with. However, Dutch law allows for ads without this number so the man exploits this discrepancy by advertising across the border in the Netherlands, and having the dogs collected in Belgium.
De Greef says the Netherlands should learn from Flemish law.
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, NVWA, which is also responsible for animal welfare, had seized hundreds of dogs from the man in Eersel due to neglect.
Animals found there in poor condition included ponies, donkeys and rabbits, many of which had health problems and were kept in crude, cramped enclosures.
The NVWA views the breeder as incapable of providing proper care for animals “anywhere.” He flouted the rules by attempting to sell dogs in Belgium, the authority added, saying this was “utterly unacceptable.”
The authority is in contact with Belgian authorities to ascertain whether the man is breaking the law.
