'Animal-friendly Municipality' label
The City of Brussels has obtained the 'Animal-friendly Municipality' label for the second year in a row. This label is awarded by the Brussels Capital Region for animal welfare initiatives at municipal level.
In order to obtain and maintain the 'Animal-friendly Municipality' label, the Brussels municipalities must meet at least 6 of the following criteria:
- an animal welfare alderman: the presence of an alderman or alderwoman for animal welfare shows the importance of developing a local animal policy.
- an animal welfare expert within the police zone: various officers within the External site Brussels Capital Ixelles police zone are specialized in animal welfare legislation
- the presence of at least one free space for dogs: dog toilets and dog areas
- a policy that respects stray cats: found animals
- granting of a sterilization premium for domestic cats: bonus for the sterilization of cats and dogs
- management of lost, wandering or abandoned animals (24 hours a day, 7 days a week): found animals
- public information and awareness: animal welfare
- access for pets in certain places: the City allows pets in its social housing. Activities with dogs are organized in the retirement homes of the Public Welfare Centre.
- ban on fireworks
- organization of animal welfare events, such as the animal welfare lecture in 2019
- the application of municipal administrative sanctions, regarding non-compliance with the identification and registration obligation of dogs and cats ( bonus for the identification of cats)
The conditions for retaining the label are checked annually.
