European Treaty Series - No. 125

European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals
Strasbourg, 13.XI.1987

Preamble
The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,
Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is to achieve a greater unity between its
members;
Recognising that man has a moral obligation to respect all living creatures and bearing in
mind that pet animals have a special relationship with man;Considering the importance of pet animals in contributing to the quality of life and theirconsequent value to society;
Considering the difficulties arising from the enormous variety of animals which are kept byman;
Considering the risks which are inherent in pet animal overpopulation for hygiene, health andsafety of man and of other animals;
Considering that the keeping of specimens of wild fauna as pet animals should not beencouraged;
Aware of the different conditions which govern the acquisition, keeping, commercial and noncommercial breeding and disposal of and the trading in pet animals;
Aware that pet animals are not always kept in conditions that promote their health and wellbeing;
Noting that attitudes towards pet animals vary widely, sometimes because of limited
knowledge and awareness;
Considering that a basic common standard of attitude and practice which results in
responsible pet ownership is not only a desirable, but a realistic goal,
Have agreed as follows:
Chapter I – General provisions
Article 1 – Definitions
1

By pet animal is meant any animal kept or intended to be kept by man in particular in his
household for private enjoyment and companionship.

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2

By trading in pet animals is meant all regular business transactions in substantial quantities
carried out for profit which involve the change of ownership of pet animals.

3

By commercial breeding and boarding is meant breeding or boarding mainly for profit and in
substantial quantities.

4

By animal sanctuary is meant a non-profit making establishment where pet animals may be
kept in substantial numbers. If national legislative and/or administrative measures permit,
such an establishment may accept stray animals.

5

By a stray animal is meant a pet animal which either has no home or is outside the bounds of
its owner's or keeper's household and is not under the control or direct supervision of any
owner or keeper.

6

By competent authority is meant the authority designated by the member State.
Article 2 – Scope and implementation

1

Each Party undertakes to take the necessary steps to give effect to the provisions of thisConvention in respect of:apet animals kept by a person or legal entity in any household or in any establishment fortrading, for commercial breeding and boarding, and in animal sanctuaries;b

where appropriate, stray animals.

2

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the implementation of other instruments for theprotection of animals or for the conservation of threatened wild species.

3

Nothing in this Convention shall affect the liberty of the Parties to adopt stricter measures forthe protection of pet animals or to apply the provisions contained herein to categories ofanimals which have not been mentioned expressly in this instrument.

Chapter II – Principles for the keeping of pet animals
Article 3 – Basic principles for animal welfare
1

Nobody shall cause a pet animal unnecessary pain, suffering or distress.

2

Nobody shall abandon a pet animal.
Article 4 – Keeping

1

Any person who keeps a pet animal or who has agreed to look after it, shall be responsible forits health and welfare.

2

Any person who is keeping a pet animal or who is looking after it shall provide
accommodation, care and attention which take account of the ethological needs of the animalin accordance with its species and breed, in particular:
agive it suitable and sufficient food and water;b

provide it with adequate opportunities for exercise;ctake all reasonable measures to prevent its escape;2

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3

An animal shall not be kept as a pet animal if:
athe conditions of paragraph 2 above are not met or if,bin spite of these conditions being met, the animal cannot adapt itself to captivity.

Article 5 – Breeding
Any person who selects a pet animal for breeding shall be responsible for having regard to
the anatomical, physiological and behavioural characteristics which are likely to put at risk thehealth and welfare of either the offspring or the female parent.
Article 6 – Age limit on acquisition
No pet animal shall be sold to persons under the age of sixteen without the express consentof their parents or other persons exercising parental responsibilities.
Article 7 – Training
No pet animal shall be trained in a way that is detrimental to its health and welfare, especiallyby forcing it to exceed its natural capacities or strength or by employing artificial aids whichcause injury or unnecessary pain, suffering or distress.
Article 8 – Trading, commercial breeding and boarding, animal sanctuaries
1

Any person who, at the time of the entry into force of the Convention, is trading in or iscommercially breeding or boarding pet animals or is operating an animal sanctuary shall,
within an appropriate period to be determined by each Party, declare this to the competentauthority.
Any person who intends to engage in any of these activities shall declare this intention to thecompetent authority.

234This declaration shall stipulate:athe species of pet animals which are involved or to be involved;b

the person responsible and his knowledge;ca description of the premises and equipment used or to be used.

The above-mentioned activities may be carried out only:
aif the person responsible has the knowledge and abilities required for the activity either
as a result of professional training or of sufficient experience with pet animals andb

if the premises and the equipment used for the activity comply with the requirements set
out in Article 4.

The competent authority shall determine on the basis of the declaration made under theprovisions of paragraph 1 whether or not the conditions set out in paragraph 3 are being
complied with. If these conditions are not adequately met, it shall recommend measures and,if necessary for the welfare of the animals, it shall prohibit the commencement or continuationof the activity.

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5

The competent authority shall, in accordance with national legislation, supervise whether or
not the above-mentioned conditions are complied with.
Article 9 – Advertising, entertainment, exhibitions, competitions and similar events

1

2

Pet animals shall not be used in advertising, entertainment, exhibitions, competitions andsimilar events unless:athe organiser has created appropriate conditions for the pet animals to be treated inaccordance with the requirements of Article 4, paragraph 2, andb

the pet animals' health and welfare are not put at risk.

No substances shall be given to, treatments applied to, or devices used on a pet animal forthe purpose of increasing or decreasing its natural level of performance:aduring competition orb

at any other time when this would put at risk the health and welfare of the animal.

Article 10 – Surgical operations
123

Surgical operations for the purpose of modifying the appearance of a pet animal or for othernon-curative purposes shall be prohibited and, in particular:athe docking of tails;b

the cropping of ears;

cdevocalisation;

ddeclawing and defanging;

Exceptions to these prohibitions shall be permitted only:
aif a veterinarian considers non-curative procedures necessary either for veterinary
medical reasons or for the benefit of any particular animal;b

to prevent reproduction.

aOperations in which the animal will or is likely to experience severe pain shall be carriedout under anaesthesia only by a veterinarian or under his supervision.

b

Operations for which no anaesthesia is required may be carried out by a personcompetent under national legislation.

Article 11 – Killing1

Only a veterinarian or another competent person shall kill a pet animal except in anemergency to terminate an animal's suffering when veterinary or other competent assistancecannot be quickly obtained or in any other emergency covered by national legislation. All
killing shall be done with the minimum of physical and mental suffering appropriate to thecircumstances. The method chosen, except in an emergency, shall either:

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acause immediate loss of consciousness and death, orb

begin with the induction of deep general anaesthesia to be followed by a step which will
ultimately and certainly cause death.

The person responsible for the killing shall make sure that the animal is dead before thecarcass is disposed of.
2

The following methods of killing shall be prohibited:adrowning and other methods of suffocation if they do not produce the effects required in
sub-paragraph 1.b;b

the use of any poisonous substance or drug, the dose and application of which cannot becontrolled so as to give the effect mentioned in paragraph 1;celectrocution unless preceded by immediate induction of loss of consciousness.

Chapter III – Supplementary measures for stray animals
Article 12 – Reduction of numbers
When a Party considers that the numbers of stray animals present it with a problem, it shalltake the appropriate legislative and/or administrative measures necessary to reduce theirnumbers in a way which does not cause avoidable pain, suffering or distress.
abSuch measures shall include the requirements that:
iif such animals are to be captured, this is done with the minimum of physical and mental
suffering appropriate to the animal;ii

whether captured animals are kept or killed, this is done in accordance with the principles
laid down in this Convention;

Parties undertake to consider:
iproviding for dogs and cats to be permanently identified by some appropriate means
which causes little or no enduring pain, suffering or distress, such as tattooing as well as
recording the numbers in a register together with the names and addresses of theirowners;ii

reducing the unplanned breeding of dogs and cats by promoting the neutering of theseanimals;iii

encouraging the finder of a stray dog or cat to report it to the competent authority.

Article 13 – Exceptions for capture, keeping and killing
Exceptions to the principles laid down in this Convention for the capture, the keeping and thekilling of stray animals may be made only if unavoidable in the framework of national disease
control programmes.

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Chapter IV – Information and education
Article 14 – Information and education programmes
The Parties undertake to encourage the development of information and education
programmes so as to promote awareness and knowledge amongst organisations andindividuals concerned with the keeping, breeding, training, trading and boarding of pet
animals of the provisions and the principles in this Convention. In these programmes,attention shall be drawn in particular to the following subjects:athe need for training of pet animals for any commercial or competitive purpose to be
carried out by persons with adequate knowledge and ability;b

the need to discourage:igifts of pet animals to persons under the age of sixteen without the express consent
of their parents or other persons exercising parental responsibilities;ii

gifts of pet animals as prizes, awards or bonuses;iii

unplanned breeding of pet animals;cthe possible negative consequences for the health and well-being of wild animals if theywere to be acquired or introduced as pet animals;

dthe risks of irresponsible acquisition of pet animals leading to an increase in the numberof unwanted and abandoned animals.

Chapter V – Multilateral consultations
Article 15 – Multilateral consultations
1The Parties shall, within five years from the entry into force of the Convention and every five
years thereafter, and, in any case, whenever a majority of the representatives of the Parties
so request, hold multilateral consultations within the Council of Europe to examine theapplication of the Convention and the advisability of revising it or extending any of itsprovisions. These consultations shall take place at meetings convened by the Secretary
General of the Council of Europe.

2Each Party shall have the right to appoint a representative to participate in theseconsultations. Any member State of the Council of Europe which is not a Party to theConvention shall have the right to be represented by an observer in these consultations.

3

After each consultation, the Parties shall submit to the Committee of Ministers of the Councilof Europe a report on the consultation and on the functioning of the Convention including, if
they consider it necessary, proposals for the amendment of Articles 15 to 23 of theConvention.

4

Subject to the provisions of this Convention, the Parties shall draw up the rules of procedure
for the consultations.

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Chapter VI – Amendments
Article 16 – Amendments
1

Any amendment to Articles 1 to 14 proposed by a Party or the Committee of Ministers shall be
communicated to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by him to themember States of the Council of Europe, to any Party, and to any State invited to accede tothe Convention in accordance with the provisions of Article 19.

2Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shallbe examined at a multilateral consultation not less than two months after the date offorwarding by the Secretary General where it may be adopted by a two-thirds majority of theParties. The text adopted shall be forwarded to the Parties.

3

Twelve months after its adoption at a multilateral consultation any amendment shall enter intoforce unless one of the Parties has notified objections.

Chapter VII – Final provisions
Article 17 – Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval
This Convention shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe. It
is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance orapproval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 18 – Entry into force
1This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of aperiod of six months after the date on which four member States of the Council of Europe
have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention in accordance with theprovisions of Article 17.

2In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it,
the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of aperiod of six months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptanceor approval.
Article 19 – Accession of non-member States

1

After the entry into force of this Convention, the Committee of Ministers of the Council ofEurope may invite any State not a member of the Council to accede to this Convention, by adecision taken by the majority provided for in Article 20.d of the Statute of the Council ofEurope and by the unanimous vote of the representatives of the Contracting States entitled tosit on the Committee of Ministers.

2

In respect of any acceding State, the Convention shall enter into force on the first day of themonth following the expiration of a period of six months after the date of deposit of theinstrument of accession with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 20 – Territorial clause

1

Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification,acceptance, approval or accession, specify the territory or territories to which this Convention
shall apply.

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2

Any Party may, at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of theCouncil of Europe, extend the application of this Convention to any other territory specified inthe declaration. In respect of such territory the Convention shall enter into force on the firstday of the month following the expiration of a period of six months after the date of receipt ofsuch declaration by the Secretary General.

3

Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory
specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary
General. The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following theexpiration of a period of six months after the date of receipt of such notification by theSecretary General.
Article 21 – Reservations

1

Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification,acceptance, approval or accession, declare that it avails itself of one or more reservations in
respect of Article 6 and Article 10, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph a. No other reservation may
be made.

2

Any Party which has made a reservation under the preceding paragraph may wholly or partly
withdraw it by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council ofEurope. The withdrawal shall take effect on the date of receipt of such notification by theSecretary General.

3

A Party which has made a reservation in respect of a provision of this Convention may notinvoke the application of that provision by any other Party; it may, however, if its reservation ispartial or conditional, invoke the application of that provision in so far as it has itself accepted
it.
Article 22 – Denunciation

1

Any Party may at any time denounce this Convention by means of a notification addressed to
the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

2Such denunciation shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expirationof a period of six months after the date of receipt of the notification by the Secretary General.
Article 23 – Notifications
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Councilof Europe and any State which has acceded to this Convention or has been invited to do so,of:aany signature;b

the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession;c

any date of entry into force of this Convention in accordance with Articles 18, 19 and 20;

dany other act, notification or communication relating to this Convention.

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In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed thisConvention.
Done at Strasbourg, on 13 November 1987, in English and French, both texts being equallyauthentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe.
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to eachmember State of the Council of Europe, and to any State invited to accede to this Convention.

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