Guide to Belgian law on animal welfare, breeding and stud services
This guide summarises the official rules that apply in Belgium to anyone who breeds, sells, gives away, mates or looks after animals: dogs, cats, horses, exotic pets and fish. Wallonia is covered first (Service public de Wallonie, SPW); differences with Brussels and Flanders are pointed out.
Legislation by animal
The essentials in 6 points
- Selling dogs or cats, even a single litter, requires a breeding licence (Wallonia: SPW).
- Minimum transfer age: 8 weeks for a puppy, 12 weeks for a kitten.
- Every dog and cat is microchipped and registered (DogID, CatID) before any transfer.
- In Wallonia, a cat is neutered before being sold or given away (except when sold to a licensed breeder).
- The buyer shows a central register extract (keeping permit) issued by their municipality.
- Every ad shows the licence number, the identification number and the legal information.
Who sets the rules in Belgium?
Since the sixth state reform (2014), animal welfare has been a regional matter: each Region has its own texts, administration and licences. Dog and cat identification remains organised in national databases (DogID, CatID).
| Region | Administration | Main legislation | Public licence register |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallonia | SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment — Animal Welfare | Walloon Animal Welfare Code (2018) and its decrees | Yes: open data (ODWB), checked by Animoo |
| Brussels-Capital | Brussels Environment | Law of 14 August 1986, as amended by the Region | Published list, manual check |
| Flanders | Departement Omgeving — Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen | Law of 14 August 1986, as amended by the Region | Manual check |
Microchip and registration: DogID, CatID, equine passport
The vet implants a microchip (15-digit number, ISO 11784/11785 standard) and registers the animal with its keeper’s details. This number is required in ads and helps find a lost animal.
| Species | Identification | Official database | Minimum transfer age | Neutering before transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | Microchip mandatory | DogID | 8 weeks | No |
| Cat | Microchip mandatory | CatID | 12 weeks | Yes (except sale to a licensed breeder) |
| Horse, pony, donkey | Transponder and passport | Belgian equine database (UELN number) | No legal age set | No |
| Exotic pets (mammals) | Not mandatory | Positive list of permitted species | Depends on the species | No |
| Fish | Not mandatory | No official database | — | No |
Dogs: DogID
- Identification and registration before 8 weeks of age and, in any case, before any transfer.
- Change of keeper: the previous and the new keeper sign the transfer document.
Cats: CatID
- Identification and registration before any transfer (sale, gift, adoption).
- Wallonia: neutering before the transfer, paid by the seller (except sale to a licensed breeder).
Obligations of a licensed breeder
Breeding licence categories (Wallonia)
| Category | Litters per year | For whom? |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional breeding | 1 | Private individual with one litter |
| Hobby breeding | 2 to 5 | Enthusiast, often one or two breeds |
| Professional breeding | More than 5 | Declared commercial activity |
What the law requires
- Display the licence number in all advertising (ads, website, social media).
- Respect the minimum transfer age and identify each young animal before the transfer.
- Hand over the documents: vaccination booklet, identification certificate, guarantee and care advice.
- Ask the buyer for the central register extract (keeping permit) before the transfer.
- Not exceed the number of litters for your category and respect housing standards (space, hygiene, socialisation).
- Keep the registers required by the administration up to date and accept its inspections.
How Animoo verifies a breeder
Every declared licence number is checked against the official Walloon register (breeders, shelters, boarding kennels) published as open data by the SPW. An administrator then approves the account: only verified breeders can post sale or stud ads for dogs and cats.
Stud services and breeding
Offering a stud or having your female mated is part of breeding. For dogs and cats, selling the offspring requires a licence; on Animoo, stud ads for dogs and cats are reserved for verified breeders.
Before a mating
- Breeding animals microchipped (and entered in a stud book if pedigreed: LOSH in Belgium).
- Health screening recommended for the breed (dysplasia, genetic tests, eye tests…).
- Female’s age and health suited to pregnancy; no litters too close together.
The stud contract
- Identity of the owners and identification numbers of both breeding animals.
- Price (flat fee or pick of the litter), date, number of planned matings and terms if it fails.
- Documents provided: mating certificate, health results, copy of the pedigree.
Equines
For horses, mating follows the breed’s stud-book rules (approved stallion, covering certificate, birth declaration); the foal receives a passport and a UELN number.
Ads: mandatory information
In Wallonia, an ad selling or giving away a dog or cat must include the following information (Walloon Government Order of 23 March 2017):
- Advertiser’s first and last name.
- Phone or email address.
- Licence number of the establishment.
- Species, age and sex of the animal.
- Breed, cross or no breed (as in DogID or CatID).
- Identification number (the mother’s for a litter that is too young).
- Neutering, if applicable.
- Price, if applicable.
- For a breeder: breeding category and maximum number of litters per year.
Animoo’s forms ask for and check this information before publication.
Buying or adopting: keeping permit
- Wallonia: everyone holds an implicit keeping permit, which can be withdrawn in case of mistreatment.
- Since 1 July 2022, the buyer or adopter must show an extract from the central register of environmental and animal welfare offences, obtained from their municipality.
- The breeder, shop or shelter checks this extract before the transfer.
- The Walloon Government has announced a reform of this system: check the rules in force when you buy.
Rules for pet sitting and boarding
| Activity | SPW licence | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Care at the owner’s home (pet sitting) | No | Visits, feeding, overnight at the owner’s home |
| Dog walking | No | Follow local by-laws (lead, number of dogs) |
| Boarding (dogs, cats, at least one night) | Yes | Licence valid for 10 years, housing standards |
Good practice for a declared pet sitter
- Declare your income (side activity or self-employed, depending on your situation).
- Take out liability insurance covering pet care.
- Meet the animal before the stay and note the care routine, the vet and an emergency contact.
- Book and pay through Animoo’s calendar: clear dates and secure payment.
Horses, exotic pets and fish
Horses, ponies and donkeys
Transponder and passport mandatory; the passport travels with the equine at sale and on every journey.
Exotic pets
Only mammals on the Belgian positive list may be kept. Reptiles, birds and other protected species (CITES) require the prescribed origin documents.
Fish
No identification, but the keeper must provide an aquarium or pond suited to the species (volume, filtration, temperature).
Lost or stolen animal
- Report the loss in DogID or CatID (or through your vet).
- Inform your municipality and, in case of theft, report it to the police.
- Post a lost-pet notice on Animoo with a photo and print the poster.
Official sources
- Animal welfare in Wallonia (SPW)
- Dog or cat breeder licence
- Animal boarding licence
- Register of licensed breeders in Wallonia (ODWB)
- DogID · CatID
- Brussels Environment · Dierenwelzijn Vlaanderen
This guide is for information; it does not replace the official texts. If in doubt, contact your Region’s administration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to sell a puppy or kitten in Wallonia?
Yes. In Wallonia, anyone who sells dogs or cats, even a single litter a year, must be licensed by the Service public de Wallonie (SPW). The occasional breeding licence covers one litter a year, the hobby licence up to five litters and the professional licence beyond that. The licence number (HK…) must appear in every ad.
At what age can a puppy or kitten be sold or given away?
A puppy may not be transferred before 8 weeks of age and a kitten before 12 weeks. The animal must be microchipped and registered (DogID for dogs, CatID for cats) before the transfer.
Must a cat be neutered before sale or adoption?
In Wallonia, yes: a cat may only be sold or given away once neutered, identified and registered in CatID. The only exception is a sale to a licensed breeder, for breeding.
What are DogID and CatID?
These are the official Belgian databases for identifying and registering dogs (DogID) and cats (CatID). The vet implants the microchip (15-digit number) and registers the animal and its keeper. When the owner changes or the animal is lost, the registration must be updated.
What are the keeping permit and the central register extract?
In Wallonia, everyone holds an implicit keeping permit, which a judge or the administration can withdraw. Since 1 July 2022, the buyer or adopter of a pet must show the seller (breeder, shop, shelter) an extract from the central register of environmental and animal welfare offences, obtained from their municipality, proving that they have not been deprived of this right.
What information must an animal sale ad contain?
An ad selling or giving away a dog or cat must state in particular: the advertiser’s identity and contact details, their licence number, the species, age, sex and breed (or no breed), the animal’s identification number (or the mother’s for a litter that is too young), neutering if applicable, the price and, for a breeder, their breeding category and maximum number of litters per year.
Can I offer my dog or cat for stud?
Stud services are part of breeding: in Wallonia, breeding dogs or cats for sale falls under the breeding licence. On Animoo, stud ads for dogs and cats are reserved for breeders whose licence has been verified; the stud must be microchipped. A written stud contract is strongly recommended.
Does a pet sitter need a licence in Wallonia?
Looking after an animal at its owner’s home (pet sitting) and dog walking do not require a licence. However, boarding dogs or cats for at least one night in an establishment (boarding kennel) requires an SPW licence. In all cases, income must be declared and liability insurance is recommended.
How can I check a breeder’s licence number?
In Wallonia, the SPW publishes the list of licensed breeders, boarding kennels and shelters as open data (ODWB platform). Animoo checks every declared number against this register; verified breeders get a badge on their profile. For Brussels and Flanders, licences are checked manually.
What are the rules for selling a horse, an exotic pet or fish?
An equine must have a transponder (microchip) and a passport with its UELN number, which accompanies it at sale. For exotic mammals, only species on the Belgian positive list may be kept. Protected species (CITES) require the prescribed documents. Every keeper must meet each species’ welfare needs (space, food, care).
What should I do if my animal is lost or stolen?
Report the loss as soon as possible in DogID or CatID (or to your vet), to your municipality and, in case of theft, to the police. Also post a lost-pet notice on Animoo with a photo: it is shared with members in your area.