Found or lost animals
What to do when you have found a dead, wounded or wandering animal on the territory of the City of Brussels (1000, 1020, 1120, 1130)? Different instructions apply to other municipalities.
If it is during office hours (Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm) and on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 11 am to 1 pm:
- if it is small and transportable in a box with holes, bring it to the External site Ligue Royale Belge pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LRBPO)
- if it is big, contact the External site Ligue Royale Belge pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LRBPO) or the fire brigade at 112
Outside these hours:
- if it is small and transportable in a box with holes, keep it warm and still while waiting for it to be transported. Don't force it to drink or eat. More info: External site Found a wounded animal? What to do (in French)
- if it is a large animal, contact the emergency services on 112 or the police on 101. They will take the animal to the External site Ligue Royale Belge pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LRBPO)
- outside the opening hours of the LRBPO you can contact volunteers for personal advice: External site Care centres Brussels (in French)
If it is sociable and can be caught, take it to the vet to see if it is identified (microchip) to find its owners.
If it is fearful, contact the police at the number 101. They will contact External site La Croix Bleue. A research of the owners will be undertaken and if these do not appear, the animal will be put up for adoption.
In any case, you can post its photo at External site Animal Search, an application that connects people who have lost their animal and people who have found one.
If it is sociable and can be caught, take it to the vet to check if it is identified (microchip) to find its owners.
If it is fearful or wild, check if it has a cut in its left ear to indicate that it has been sterilized and returned to its territory.
If it does not have a cut, inform an association that deals with "field" cats (sterilization, care, possible adoption if sociable):
- for the Pentagon (city centre) and Haren: External site Ever'y Cat
- for the Pentagon (city centre) and Laeken: External site Chats Libres
- for Neder-Over-Heembeek: External site Association Défense Animale (ADA)
- External site Cat Rescue
In any case, you can post its photo at External site Animal Search, an application that connects people who have lost their animal and people who have found one.
Adopt a cat
Check out the associations that collect cats (list in "I found a stray cat"). As the wildest cats are released on their territory after sterilization, only the most sociable cats are adopted. It is also possible to adopt kittens.
Adopt a dog
For dogs, also think about adoption at an association that collects unfortunate dogs. Give them a second chance.
Main associations for adopting animals
In Brussels:
- External site Ever'y Cat (cats)
- External site Chats Libres (cats)
- External site Cat Rescue (cats)
- External site Veeweyde (dogs, cats, rodents and rabbits)
- External site Help Animals (dogs and cats)
- External site La Croix Bleu de Belgique (dogs, cats, rodents and rabbits)
- External site WAHF (rodents and rabbits)
- External site Le Fanal des Chats (cats)
In Wallonia:
- External site ADA - Association Défense Animale (in Waterloo)
- External site Un Toit Pour Eux (in Nivelles)
- External site Sans Collier (in Chastre and Thorembais-Saint-Trond)
- External site Les Amis des Animaux (in Feluy)
Since 1 July 2022, if you wish to acquire (buy, adopt or receive) an animal in Wallonia, you must obtain a licence to keep it from the pet shop, shelter or breeder you have contacted.
Residents of Brussels, including residents of the City of Brussels, can apply directly to the 'SPW Agriculture, Ressources Naturelles, Environnement'. Applications should be sent:
- by e-mail to fichiercentral.environnement@spw.wallonie.be
- or by post to the following address: Service Public de Wallonie Agriculture, Ressources Naturelles, Environnement - Avenue Prince de Liège 15 - 5100 Jambes
The application must contain:
- The surname and first name of the applicant
- The national registration number of the applicant
- The address of the applicant
- The extract will then be issued within a maximum of two weeks (15 'calendar' days after receipt of the letter by the administration)
If your cat or dog is missing, you can place an ad on the following sites:
- External site Animal Search
- External site Chat perdu (in French)
- External site AnimalWeb (in French)
External site Animal Search is the official dog and cat registration platform.
If you have lost your pet or seen a lost or injured domestic animal, you can report it via the Animal Search app. This app is designed to report lost, injured or deceased domestic animals using geotagged photos. By mobilising the app's community, animals have a better chance of being found.
In addition to contacting app users, the app also allows contacting vets, animal shelters and municipal services close to where the animal is located.
Download the application or use the website at: