Dogs and Cats in Pet Stores: Bans Finally Aligned

Since August 5, 2026, selling a dog or a cat in a pet store can be costly for the business. Giving one away for free is also prohibited. A new decree makes these offenses punishable by a fifth-class misdemeanor. The fine can reach up to €1,500. Displaying an animal in a storefront window visible from the street also becomes punishable.

 

 

Selling Dogs and Cats in Pet Stores: What Is Now Punished

Since January 1, 2024, pet stores may no longer sell dogs or cats. This prohibition stems from the Animal Welfare Act of November 30, 2021. (1)

However, the mechanism remained incomplete. The prohibition existed, but no explicit misdemeanor clearly punished certain breaches.

The decree No. 2026-729 of August 1, 2026 fills this gap. Published in the Official Journal on August 4, it became effective the following day. It creates two explicit offenses. (2)

A pet store now faces a fifth-class fine when it:

• sells a dog or a cat;
• grants a dog or a cat for free;
• shows an animal that is visible from a public road.

A fifth-class misdemeanor can reach €1,500. (1)

Thus, giving something away does not allow bypassing the prohibition. A storefront cannot present a puppy as a “freebie” with a purchase or service.

Animals on Display Also Affected

The decree does not only target puppies and kittens behind glass. The text punishes the display, in a pet store, of an animal that is visible from a street open to public traffic.

This rule therefore also covers other companion animals. A rabbit, a bird, or a small mammal must not be used as a street-side lure to attract customers.

Inside the store, pet shops may continue to sell other allowed species. They must however respect health standards and the specific needs of each animal.

This prohibition can curb impulse purchases. An animal should not be chosen as a mere object glimpsed while passing by.

An Adoption Day at a Pet Store Still Possible

Seeing a dog or a cat in a pet store does not automatically mean an offense is being committed. Adoption days remain allowed, but they operate under a strict framework.

The animals presented must belong to a foundation or an animal protection organization. They must come from abandonment or have no identified owner. Volunteers from the organization must also be present. (1)

In this case, the pet store hosts the event. It does not sell the dogs or cats itself.

How to recognize a genuine adoption day?

Before taking any step, ask for the name of the association or foundation responsible. Its volunteers should be able to explain the animal’s known history and its needs.

Several elements should reassure you:

• The organizing association is clearly identified;
• Volunteers are present with the animals;
• The adoption is concluded with the association, not with the store;
• A veterinary certificate and a transfer attestation are provided;
• The animal’s identification in the I-CAD file is verifiable;
• No immediate departure is offered without proper formalities.

The prospective adopter must have a commitment and knowledge certificate. A seven-day reflection period applies before the transfer. This rule also applies when the animal is adopted for free. (3)

A so-called “adoption” finalized directly at the checkout should therefore raise alarms. The same applies if no one can identify the responsible association.

Where to Legally Buy or Adopt a Dog or Cat?

The prohibition targets pet stores. It does not mean that all transfers of a dog or cat are banned.

You can especially turn to:

• a shelter or a animal protection association;
• a licensed breeder who follows sanitary obligations;
• a private individual, within the limits provided by the regulations.

In all cases, resist a hasty decision. Verify the identity of the transferor, the animal’s origin, and its identification number. Also request the veterinary certificate and the transfer attestation.

The engagement certificate is not merely a formality. It outlines the animal’s physical, behavioral, and medical needs. It also specifies the cost and the long-term commitments of an adoption over several years.

How to Report a Pet Store That Violates the Law

A puppy offered for sale? A cat presented as a “gift”? An animal still on display in a storefront window facing the street? You can file a report.

Start by noting the store’s address, the date and time of the facts. Keep the advertisement, flyer, or window photograph. Photograph only from an area you are authorized to be in.

You can then use SignalConso. The report is transmitted to the company and becomes visible to agents of the DGCCRF. (4)

You can also contact the department-level Directorate for Population Protection (DDPP). In some departments, this service is called DDETSPP.

If the facts reveal abuse or undignified housing conditions, an official form allows you to alert the police or gendarmerie. It is possible to contact the veterinarians from the DDPP or an animal protection association. In an emergency for an animal’s survival, call 911. (5)

Enforcement Made Easier to Apply

The August 5, 2026 change is therefore not a new ban on selling dogs and cats. That measure has been in place since 2024.

The novelty lies in the penalty. The decree finally provides a precise criminal remedy for illegal sales, gifts, and storefront displays.

This framework will not eliminate all trafficking. However, it makes the rule clearer for professionals, inspectors, and consumers. Each person now must distinguish a properly supervised adoption from a disguised sale.

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