Adopt a pet

Do you live in Luxembourg and want to adopt a dog or a cat? Are you planning to move to Luxembourg soon and want to bring your pet with you?

Owning a pet in Luxembourg isn’t as simple as it seems.
You must complete certain administrative formalitieswhen adopting a pet or simply because you own one.

Pet Owner in Luxembourg: What You Need to Know

Renting a home and having a pet

In Luxembourg, apartment or house owners can prohibit pets in the lease agreement. Even though this may be negotiable with the owner, be sure to ask about it during your first visit if you have a pet!

Microchips and mandatory vaccinations for dogs and cats

If you own a dog or cat in Luxembourg, you are required to have it microchipped by a licensed veterinarian. Why? Because in the event of loss or damage caused by the animal, the microchip will allow its owner to be identified immediately.

Your pet must be microchipped within the first 4 months after birth or within the first month of adoption.

Pets must also be vaccinated. Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies. Once their vaccinations are up to date, the animal can receive a European pet passport and travel within Europe.

Animal Protection Law in Luxembourg

Adopting a pet is not to be taken lightly in Luxembourg. An animal protectionlaw was enacted in 2018. Since then, animals are no longer considered objects but living beings.

Animal protection is regulated in Luxembourg. Consequently, abandoning or mistreating animals is severely punished. During the adoption process, the animal’s future dignity and respect will be verified, as well as its safety and well-being.

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Adopting a Pet in Luxembourg

Before bringing an animal into your home, it is therefore important to ask yourself the right questions:

• What is your lifestyle? Is it compatible with having an animal in your home?
• Are you often away? Do you travel regularly (vacations, business trips, etc.)?
• Who will look after your pet when you go on vacation?
• How much living space can you provide? Will it have enough room? Will it be able to run around and play?
• If necessary, who will be responsible for training and raising your pet?
• Who will feed and bathe it? Who will clean its tank, litter box, or cage? Who will take it for walks so it can burn off energy?
• How old is the animal? What is its average lifespan?
• Have you considered the costs involved (food, veterinary care, supplies, etc.)?

Specific formalities for dogs in Luxembourg

Register your dog with your local municipality

As soon as you become the owner of a dog or bring one into Luxembourg, you must register the acquisition with your local municipality within one month of the acquisition or import. To do so , you will need a veterinary certificate issued by a Luxembourg veterinarian.

Please note: so-called "dangerous" dogs will require additional procedures.

Taking out mandatory dog insurance

If you own a dog, you must also purchase insurance from a company licensed in the Grand Duchy. This is because you must cover your civil liability as the dog’s owner in the event of damage or an accident caused by your pet.

But beyond just civil liability, insurance for your pet offers you many benefits, particularly in the event of veterinary medical expenses.

Additionally, a special note must be included when declaring the adoption of a dog that may be dangerous.

For more information about pet insurance:

• For dogs: see the article on dog insurance from our partner AXA
• For a cat: see the article on cat insurance from our partner AXA

Annual dog tax

An annual tax of at least 10 euros is payable to your municipality. The amount depends on where you live. Guide dogs, service dogs for people with disabilities, and military and customs dogs are exempt from this tax.

Requirement to keep your dog on a leash in urban areas

All dogs, regardless of size, must be kept on a leash in urban areas, unless designated off-leash areas are established through a special exemption. This requirement also applies to parking lots and public transportation.

Outside urban areas, there is no requirement to keep your dog on a leash, except for dangerous dogs. However, you must be able to control your pet or keep it on a leash if a problem arises.

Please also note that waste bags are available in Luxembourg City and throughout Luxembourg’s municipalities so that you can pick up after your dog. This helps keep the environment clean and contributes to fostering good neighborly relations.

Special Provisions for Dangerous Dogs in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, special provisions apply to owners of dogs considered potentially dangerous. This provision specifically applies to Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Mastiffs, American Staffordshire Terriers, Tosas, Pit Bulls, and Boer Bulls.

These dogs require prior authorization for ownership or importation from the Ministry of Agriculture. To obtain this, you must present a certificate of completion of specific training courses, issued by an accredited organization.

Dogs considered potentially dangerous must be kept on a leash at all times.

Regulatory requirements for cats

Just like dogs, cats must be microchipped. Veterinarians can perform this procedure without causing your pet any pain.

The regulations also specify that cats other than farm cats must be spayed or neutered. This procedure must be performed no earlier than 6 months after the animal’s birth.

Please note: If you plan to leave your pet at a boarding facility during your vacation, you will be asked to provide its health record and proof of these procedures (microchip and neutering or spaying of your cat).

Where can you adopt a pet in Luxembourg?

Do you live in Luxembourg and want to adopt a pet? Would you like to do a good deed by adopting a dog or cat from a Luxembourg shelter?
Just Arrived suggests a few places where you can adopt a four-legged companion.

Dudelange Animal Shelter

Located at Parc Le'h in Dudelange and open Monday through Saturday from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM, the Dudelange Animal Shelter is a refuge for animals. It is run entirely by volunteers. It is also funded almost entirely by private donations. The dedicated team of volunteer caretakers does everything possible to provide the best care for the animals they have been welcoming since 1989.

There, you’ll mainly find dogs and cats of all ages and breeds, available for immediate adoption.

All dogs and cats, male and female, are microchipped, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. The cats have also tested negative for feline leukemia and feline AIDS.

There is a fee for adopting an animal to help fund the shelter’s operations. Many animals are waiting to be adopted!

SEPA (Esch Animal Protection Society)

Located at 121 rue Bourgrund in Esch-sur-Alzette, SEPA is an association that has been in existence since 1992 and does everything in its power to protect animals from abuse and poor living conditions. SEPA offers its animals for adoption, as well as the opportunity to take them for walks by appointment.

The team consists of staff members and several volunteers. SEPA provides a very well-equipped shelter for abandoned cats and dogs. This organization provides all necessary care for the animals in its care until their new owners arrive.

SEPA is open every day from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, including weekends and holidays.

SOS Abandoned Animals Association

Founded in 1983, the Association S.O.S. Animaux a.s.b.l. has been taking in abandoned cats since 2005 at the Lexy Nilles Shelter, 58, rue de l’Avenir, in Luxembourg-Limpertsberg.

Dedicated exclusively to the cause of cats, the volunteers who work there do everything they can to improve the quality of life for the animals in their care in order to find them better homes.

With several successful adoptions to their credit, the association’s members frequently update the list of cats available for adoption at their shelter.

Visits to the shelter are available by appointment.

Organizations for adopting a European dog

Several associations help rescue abused dogs from other European countries, such as Eastern European countries or Spain.

Before committing, verify that the animal is in good health and has all the necessary documents and authorizations to enter Luxembourg.

Do you need to transport a dog in your car? Contact ACL Luxembourg for more information.

Find more information on administrative procedures in Luxembourg