Michaël, a student, witnessed what he believed was animal abuse from his roommate’s window. He observed that his neighbor’s German Shepherd was neglected and left alone in a small yard day and night, regardless of the weather conditions. Michaël wanted to report the situation, but it was impossible to do so without knowing the first and last names of the dog’s owner. However, thanks to a report filed by Michaël, the director of the Animal Welfare Unit of the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW) became aware of the problem. If you notice animal abuse, contacting the free number 1718 is the first step to take. However, to open a complaint, it is necessary to have sufficient information, including the name and surname of the owner of the animal. If this is not possible, then contacting an animal shelter or association is an alternative solution. The police and the municipal administration have competence in matters of animal welfare, but not all police areas are necessarily sensitive to the cause. The SPW’s Animal Welfare Unit provides training to future inspectors in animal welfare and also trains municipal inspectors.
From the windows of his roommate, Michaël sees what he thinks is animal abuse. His neighbours’ dog is outside day and night in a small yard, completely neglected. The student therefore wanted to report the situation. But without the first and last name of the owner of the animal, it is impossible to file a complaint. Thanks to our report, the director of the Animal Welfare Unit of the SPW discovers the problem. So what are the steps to take?
“From the windows of my roommate, you can see a German Shepherd who I believe is neglected and mistreated”, writes Michaël via the orange Alert us button. This student contacted us in the hope of getting things moving: he has noticed for several weeks that his neighbours’ dog does not seem to be in great shape. “He’s a German shepherd who lives in a small yard, he spends his time outside, in all weathers. Even at night, he’s outside”explains the young man.
For him, it is clear that this is animal abuse. “The simple fact that he is outside in all weathers. His masters take him by the chops to bring him into the yard, you could also clearly see that he had plates on his back. And he often cried when his masters were leaving…”he describes.
Touched by this situation of “abandonment“, Michaël decides to file a complaint with the local police area. “I went to the Saint-Servais police station because I didn’t know what else to do. And there they told me that my complaint would be redirected to the SPW so it was better if I filed a complaint directly with the SPW.” This is what he does, but a real battlefield then begins for our student… “That’s how I was sent from organization to organization”he said.
Contact made with the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW), he is advised to call 1718, the free number of the Walloon Region. “To file a complaint, I was asked for the name and surname of the owner of the dog.” Information that Michael did not have. “The SPW refuses to give me this information, question of privacy. The police do not want to give it to me either. And the shelters cannot give it to me either. So, I am stuck”he laments.
“I don’t know how to have access to this information so I don’t know how to file a complaint”
He then turns to “the head of animal welfare for the municipality of Namur” but this person “also doesn’t have access to this information so how am I supposed to get it?”he protests.
Michaël finds himself stuck in an endless loop where the different actors pass the buck. “To be able to file a complaint, I need the name and surname of the owner of the dog but I do not know how to have access to this information so I do not know how to file a complaint”, he summarizes. A situation which, according to him, is not normal and even “shocking“. “I went to look at the police code of conduct, there’s an animal welfare law. They’re supposed to enforce the laws, so it still shocks me.”
A real problem
If you notice a case of animal abuse, the first instinct is to contact the free number 1718. To open a complaint, however, you must have enough information, including the name and surname of the animal’s owners. This is problematic, recognizes Bruno Cardinal, director of the Animal Welfare Unit of the Public Service of Wallonia (SPW). Thanks to our report, this manager discovered the problem. “You have clearly drawn our attention to the fact that there is a problem”, he told us. He was in fact not aware of this constraint. Constraint he would like to see disappear.
The free number 1718 is “a call center authorized to take into account the complaint, the facts so you would be aware. This call center will register your complaint and pass it on to our services according to the facts that are reported”develops the director of the Animal Welfare Unit of the SPW.
If it is about facts concerning, for example, a breeding, a refuge, a boarding house or even a zoological park, the complaint will be handled by the Animal Welfare Unit of the SPW. “Our unit has developed a real expertise for which there are veterinarians who are specialized in animal welfare. They will be able to investigate and take into account the complaint that has been filed”he explains.
In the case of Michaël, it is about a fact concerning an individual. The complaint will therefore be addressed to local actors, such as the police or the municipal administration. “The police areas have the competence in matters of animal welfare, as well as the municipal inspectors, the municipalities and the mayors. But they are not left to their own devices, our unit – which has the expertise – is in support of these local actors”assure Bruno Cardinal.
Another solution: animal shelters or associations
Since Michaël does not have the information required to file a complaint with the SPW or the police, he still has another option: to go to a shelter near his home.
Animal aid associations are also sometimes called upon when animal abuse is observed. At Sans Collier, for example, several hundred complaints are recorded each year. “Our role is to try to gather as much information as possible, but normally the police have been informed beforehand. Because they have the legal role to observe and possibly to seize if necessary”underlines Mélodie Michaux, head of the animal welfare department at Sans Collier.
The ASBL, located in Perwez, actually has a secondary role: when the response to the complaint does not satisfy the complainant, which is the case of Michaël here. “We try to take over from the authorities and see what is possible to do. But if someone thinks they see an animal being mistreated, we must take as much information as possible on the state of the animal, on the housing , his living conditions, the precise address… And first transfer to the police.Secondly, if the person is not satisfied, at that time, you must contact the association closest to you. At her place”insists Mélodie Michaux.
Training in police academies
Note that not all police areas are necessarily sensitive to the animal cause. “There is still work to be done, but it depends on the police zone. It’s a shame because animal abuse is a crime like any other. A person who is arrested in a state of drunkenness, it’s “It’s an offence. It’s the same thing for an animal. But at the moment, some police officers are not aware of it and will ignore it”she regrets.
To respond to this problem, the director of the SPW’s Animal Welfare Unit assures us that training takes place in police academies and with municipal actors. “We go to all the police schools where we train future inspectors in animal welfare and we also train municipal inspectors. In any case, it is our wish to develop more and more the collaboration that we have with these local actors”concludes Bruno Cardinal.
In summary, Michaël’s situation of witnessing animal abuse in his neighborhood highlights a frustrating roadblock in filing a complaint – the requirement of knowing the name and surname of the animal’s owner. However, there are options available, such as contacting the free number 1718 or local animal shelters and associations, who may be able to provide assistance. It is also promising to hear that training in animal welfare is being emphasized in police academies and with municipal actors. Let us all do our part in reporting instances of animal abuse and working towards a better future for our furry friends.