In the Walloon Region, animals now have their “welfare code”
Since January 1, 2019, the well-being of our four-legged friends has been defined in the Walloon code.
Our association, present in the Walloon Region through our shelter of Tournai and our shelter of Marais, in Coutisse, welcomes this initiative.
Concretely, what is the Walloon animal welfare code?
This Walloon Code begins with article 1: The animal is a sensitive being which has needs which are specific to it according to its nature.
Comprising 12 chapters and 109 articles, which aim to guarantee greater respect for animals, this text deals in particular with the keeping of animals, prohibited practices and authorized interventions on them, their trade, their transport and their introduction into Walloon territory, slaughters, experiments carried out on them as well as control, research, detection, prosecution, repression and reparation measures for offenses relating to animal welfare.
For example, you must be of legal age – 18 years old – to be able to keep an animal. The law also requires providing food, care and shelter that are suitable for the animal.
It is forbidden to abandon an animal, to lock it up, to tie it up without interruption, and to make it suffer. It will no longer be possible to donate an animal during a raffle or to dye or color an animal. It will also be prohibited to organize fights or shooting exercises on animals, and fair racetracks will be banned.
These rules concern ordinary citizens, but also breeders, circuses and zoological parks.