Adopting a pet in Luxembourg: our advice for getting it right

Why adopt a domestic animal?

To break the monotony, to teach your children a sense of responsibility, to adopt a more active lifestyle with more daily walks, and above all, to benefit from the joy of their company... There are many reasons for choosing to share your life with a pet. But in addition to the joy that they bring, they are also a long-term commitment that carries with it constraints.

What questions would you like to ask before adopting a domestic animal?

Liliane Ferron is a volunteer for the national league for the protection of animals in Luxembourg. For the past 20 years, she has dedicated her afternoons to people wishing to adopt a pet. We asked her what criteria should be considered before adopting.

Time

”This is the top criterion. If you work outside of your home, estimate the time you’re away from your home including commuting time. Because a dog should not be left alone for 8 to 10 hours without being taken out to do its business, Obviously, for a cat it’s different” explains Liliane.

Educating your dog can be a time-consuming experience. Is this your first experience with a dog? In such a case, Liliane strongly recommends using a dog school or approaching a dog coach to work with you to introduce some basic rules to your dog. For example, how to behave properly while on a leash and to remain calm in the presence of another animal, etc.

Children

In addition, there is the issue of children. Shelter dogs have had a previous life. Some of them may have been abused, which makes them particularly sensitive to certain behaviour even if it’s harmless. In such cases, the dog is not compatible with children. If you are adopting a puppy from a breed, you should also opt for a dog breed that is known for being adapted to living with children: Labradors, golden retrievers, bobtails, collies for example.

Space

Contrary to common belief, having a garden is not compulsory. It is important that you are able to take your dog out for a walk several times a day.

Certain breeds however should be avoided if you live in an apartment. “The Husky is very popular with its beautiful blue eyes. However, it’s a dog that requires a great deal of exercise. In the region of 10 to 20 Km per day... Without outdoor space, there’s a chance it might turn your apartment upside down!” warns Liliane.

The budget

You should also bear in mind the expenses that will be incurred with the arrival of a pet. Food, boarding costs when on holiday, healthcare costs etc. The costs could be up to hundreds or even thousands of euros each year.

The landlord’s permission

If you are a tenant, the owner of your home has the right to refuse pets. “Not many people are aware of this, especially those who weren’t born in Luxembourg” explains Liliane, which means that tenants should check with landlords to make sure pets are allowed before taking a pet on.

In summary, the animal shelters pay particular attention to providing you with guidance throughout the adoption procedure. Consequently, in the animal sanctuary that Liliane works in, the animals and their foster family are given an adjustment period of two to three weeks before the adoption agreement is formalised. “We prefer for people to return the pet to us quite quickly if adjustment is deemed too complicated” explains the volunteer.

Where should you adopt your pet from?

There are a number of different options, depending on whether you wish to adopt a puppy, a pedigree dog or simply just a loyal companion. 🙂

Shelters:

This is the option that we would recommend to you first of all. Because “There are so many unhappy animals waiting for a home behind the bars” concludes Julienne, AXA representative in Hesperange, who is herself an advocate of animal welfare. “I adopted my cat from a voluntary association as I prefer to adopt now. And, in just a few years, when I retire, I intend to dedicate my time to abandoned animals” she says.

In addition to the excellent guidance you will receive if you choose to adopt from a shelter, the animal will be chipped, vaccinated and sterilised. You should expect to pay around €300 in adoption costs for a dog and €100 for a cat, which contribute to the funding of the association.

There are many of these shelters in Luxembourg. You can find a list on the website of our friends Just arrived.

There are also websites that have been set up upon the initiative of shelters which offer a preliminary idea of the animals available for adoption without having to visit the shelter. This is the case for the following websites:

https://reseau-adoption.fr/ https://www.petalert-adoption.com/ or

https://jadopte.be/

Also in this case, you will be informed about the character and habits of the dog before you make your decision.

Private individuals:

Small ads websites, social networks, websites specialising in animal adoption etc. With the internet, the solutions for making contact with the right people have been multiplied. Adopt from friends or family where possible and be sure to check the origin of the dog. Indeed, it could be a stolen animal, originating from another country or a very young puppy, which is not yet old enough to be weaned.

This is what happened to Julienne a few years ago: “When I lived in Belgium, I reserved a dog in a pet shop. When I went to collect it with my husband, the puppy had been vaccinated and tattooed, and everything seemed to be in order. The poor beast died two days later of typhus. We found out that it was a dog that had come from Eastern Europe. The hygiene conditions during transport had clearly been the cause from the vet told us”.

Breeders:

This is the preferred option if you’re looking for a pedigree puppy. Chatting with the breeder and visiting the breeding centre will give you a good idea of the hygiene conditions and treatment of the animals.

Remember that shelters may also accommodate just as many pedigree dogs. The website Petalert Adoption offers in particular a filter function based on the breed criterion to facilitate your search.

Formalities associated with the adoption

In Luxembourg, chipping pets is mandatory, including the rabies vaccination for dogs. But this is not all. Owners of dogs must also take out public liability insurance. and have their dogs declared at the town hall. Certain municipalities also require payment of a tax. Further information on these formalities is available on the website Just Arrived.

Anticipating the healthcare costs

To provide you with coverage should you face unforeseen situations, AXA offers a dog and cat insurance policy. The goal? To offer your pet the best care, without breaking your budget!

In addition, vaccinations and sterilisation shall be reimbursed on the basis of charges incurred, without deductibles, until the animal is two years old. All that’s left to say is that we wish you lots of happiness with your new pet!