On Friday 6 June, more than 60 associations and shelters in Wallonia and Brussels announced that they were joining forces to urge the public authorities to take urgent action on animal welfare.

What set off the fuse?

Recent returns of animals to the people who mistreated them, dramatic cases that have shaken public opinion.

Indeed, in recent months, several court decisions have shocked animal rights advocates in Belgium. In March, animals that had been seized for abuse and taken in by the SPA of Perwez and the Natur’Horse shelter—some of which had since been adopted—were ordered to be returned to their abusers following an appeal to the Council of State filed by the latter. The minister’s decision was to return some of the animals to the offender, even though all the animals taken in showed signs of abuse.

Again this June, two spitzes, also seized for mistreatment, have just been returned to their former owners by court order, despite their trauma and rehabilitation at the La Louvière SPA.

At our Marais refuge and our Brussels refuge, we house and care for 15 animals from a seizure that took place in December 2024.
From this seizure, there are 31 animals in total: dogs, but also ducks, chickens, geese and goats distributed among several partner shelters: in addition to our Marais shelter, the other mistreated animals have been taken to Rêve d’Aby, Animaux en Péril, Refuge du Beaussart and Forrest & Friends .

Rescued in December 2024 by our teams at Refuge du Marais, the two dogs Belle and Balto gradually regained their health and confidence at the Brussels shelter. Their seizure for mistreatment had been approved by the authorities in February 2025 and they were ready for adoption.

Their former owners then lodged an appeal to get them back. An official letter confirmed this to us at the beginning of April.

Despite a seizure for ill-treatment, it is still possible for the former owners to contest the decision. As long as appeals are possible, the animals are not fully protected. This is a flaw in the system that needs to be remedied, both administratively and legally.

To put it plainly: a legal appeal can force a shelter or an adoptive family to return the animal to the person who caused it to suffer.

Why is this so serious?

These decisions set a dramatic precedent: saving an animal no longer guarantees its safety. They undermine the day-to-day work of shelters.

Why take action?

  • Because a rescued animal should never return to its torturer.
  • Because the current system protects forms, not lives.
  • Because shelters can’t take it any more: saturation, exhaustion, lack of support.

Because a rescued animal should never return to its torturer.
Because the current system protects forms, not lives.
Because shelters can’t take it any more: saturation, exhaustion, lack of support.

For Belle, Balto and all the other animals seized on 5 December, the Conseil d’État has set the public hearing for 10 June 2025.

If Dolimont decides to return the 31 animals to the offenders, it will be denying the proven mistreatment they have suffered and exposing them to further suffering. (Please note that in a country governed by the rule of law, a politician cannot call into question a court decision. However, it is up to them to ensure that the administrative and legal measures are properly implemented).

An ultimatum to the Minister for Animal Welfare

This situation must not become commonplace. The shelters that help animals in distress cannot resign themselves to seeing more and more seized animals returned to their torturers.

A month’s notice of strike has been given to the Walloon Government and the Minister for Animal Welfare, Adrien Dolimont, in order to obtain legal and administrative solutions from him to support the shelters and avoid the return of seized animals.

If there is no response by 15 July 2025, the shelters will suspend :

  • All their agreements with local authorities (management of strays, etc.)
  • For some, the taking in of animals as part of seizures for ill-treatment.

Send an email to the Minister to support this action via www.refugesencolere.be