France bans common practice with dogs

It's spring, the time to walk in the sunshine, to breathe in the scent of flowers and soak up pastel colours. It's also an opportunity to let your four-legged friend enjoy it… under certain conditions.

Indeed, to enjoy the spring air, it's better to be aware of this rule, in place since 1955 in France.

According to the 1955 decree, it's strictly forbidden to walk your dog in the forest if it's not on a lead. "In woods and forests, it's forbidden to walk dogs that aren't on a lead from 15 April to 30 June." And that's not all, as "cultivated or uncultivated land, meadows, vineyards, orchards, woods, as well as [...] marshes and the banks of watercourses, ponds and lakes", are also areas covered by this rule.

But why?

Every year, between April and June, no one escapes this measure. It was decided to protect the flora and fauna that are reborn with the arrival of spring and that are defenceless. According to the official text, "these prohibitions aim to prevent the destruction of birds and game species and to promote their repopulation". Authorities will consider a dog to be straying if it's no longer supervised by its owner and if "it's out of voice range allowing it to be on the loose".

And if the rule is broken?

If your companion is more than 100 metres away from you, you risk a fine of 750 euros.

(MH with Raphaël Liset - Source: Linternaute - Illustration: ©Unsplash)