Though a new law which obliges each person in Belgium to present a permit before adopting or purchasing a pet goes into effect in 15 days, much still remains unclear, Belga News Agency reports.
The document would have to be acquired from the municipality in which a person resides, however, those responsible for providing them are still not sure how the process will take place. On the other hand, the permit would be necessary for all scenarios, no matter the animal or circumstance of acquisition.
“If someone wants to buy a simple goldfish, they will have to provide the document, just as it will no longer be possible to buy a chicken on the market on Sunday without a permit. If a person wants to buy a sheep for his land, the same applies,” Franck Goffaux, director of the animal shelter, located in Mont-sur-Marchienne, said. “In principle, all sellers will be obliged to apply for it, but will this be followed? The question remains."
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The details for the availability of the document also remain unclear, whether it would have to be requested from the municipality or simply downloaded online.
A licence to own an animal has existed in Wallonia since 1 January 2019, but every adult was automatically granted one because there was no actual document – it only mattered in cases when that virtual licence was revoked due to animal abuse. With 15 days left to clarify the new guidelines, much remains in the air to make them into an enforceable reality.
