An animal can be a wonderful addition to any household, and helps make your house in Luxembourg feel like a home. So if you’re ready to get a pet, City Savvy is here with all you need to know…
Unfortunately animal shelters continue to be full of animals that families were unfortunately unable to care for. So before you move forward with getting a pet, think;
- Can I afford to both purchase and care for this pet? How long can I expect it to live? Is pet insurance worth it?
- What does it eat? What other needs does it have?
- If it’s something unusual (e.g. reptile) do I know a vet who can offer appropriate care?
- What will I do when I go on holiday? Or have to leave the country?
- How big does it get? How much space does it need?
- Will it get on with any other pets and family members?
Rescue Animals: adopt, don’t shop!
As English-speaking veterinarian ofCabinet Vetcare,Olivia Schoenfeld, says,
“It is always better to change the life of a shelter or foster pet who is in dire need of a loving home rather than getting a young pet from a breeder. These animals are often already house-trained and ask for nothing more than to be part of a caring family.”
Expect to pay for the animal, as shelters need to cover their costs. Transparency about this varies, and it is good to get a clear answer early on in the process to avoid an unpleasant surprise. There are a number of shelters in Luxembourg, and others just over the borders. Click on the links below.
In Luxembourg
TheDéierenasylis based in Gasperich. They have both dogs and cats available for adoption. You can also volunteer towalk the dogs to keep them socialised.
In Asile in Dudelange, you can adopt an animal, and they will also help owners find lost pets by advertising. Theirwebsitehas lots of useful information (e.g. on-call vets) and excellent transparency in relation to process and cost.
SOS Animauxwelcomes cats at their shelter in Limpertsberg. This is another small not-for-profit run by volunteers (they are happy to get some extra help, or donations of money or in kind). The website shows which cats are available for adoption:
Amiavysupports shelters abroad and organises adoptions of abandoned or abused animals in Luxembourg, as well as facilitating the adoption of former laboratory animals, including beagles. They are probably your best bet for rabbit and other small animal adoptions. Available animals are generally listed on theirFacebooksite or through the Wort.
Give us a Voice Luxembourgis a small organisation of volunteers that works with other organisations to home abandoned animals. Available animals are shown on the website.
Helleff fir 4 Patten(‘Help for 4 Paws’) is a small volunteer organisation that has cats and dogs and occasionally other animals available for adoption. They appreciate donations of money or in kind.
Pets Angelsis an organisation run by volunteers that helps house abandoned and abused dogs from Spain in Luxembourg. They likewise appreciate donations of money or in kind.
In France:
TheSPA in Thionvillehas dogs and cats available for adoption all the time, and occasionally houses other animals (filed under ‘Autre’). The location, opening hours, formalities, and costs of adoption are all on the website.
In Belgium:
TheSRPA in Arlonis a smaller shelter that houses cats, dogs, and occasionally other animals. They also help reconnect lost animals with their owners.
In Germany:
TheTierheim in Trieroffers a comprehensive service that includes not only adoption of many kinds of animals, but holiday care and a pet cemetery.
If despite all those options you still want or need to buy, here’s where to go:
Shops for small animals (rodents, fish, amphibians, birds etc):
There are a number of shops that sell small animals in Luxembourg. Pre-history of the animals, care in the shop, and the level of expertise of the employees varies, so do make sure you are well-informed before you go about what questions to ask for your specific animal, and what you should be looking for in terms of health. Please note that not all these shops have all types of animals.
Questions you’ll need to ask include:
- Who is your supplier / breeder?
- Where are they based (i.e. did the animals have to travel a long way)?
- What testing do the animals go through to check their health before they arrive in this shop? What vet care do they get while they are here?
Fressnapfin various locations in Luxembourg.
Josy Welterin Belle Etoile
Terraqua inCactus Hobbiin Howald
Garden Centerin Gasperich
Hausdeier– apremium online Petshop in Luxembourg, they deliver allover Luxembourg for free. (Did we mention free delivery??)
Purebred Dogs
If you are after a purebred dog, research is everything. A list of breeders in Luxembourg can be found here. Be sure to search local breeders, making sure to also include France, Germany & Belgium.
Puppy mills & puppy farms are unfortunately on the rise, their quick breeding facilities and poor conditions result in cheaper animals but have been mistreated with no animal welfare. The puppies are over bred with a lack of human contact or veterinary care. While these dogs may seem somewhat cheaper, the focus is quantity over quality so these dogs often have an unhealthy genetic makeup, being subject to a much shorter and unhealthy life.
When buying a dog from a breeder, there are some key questions to think about:
- Did they breed themselves?
- Will you be able to see the mum?
- How many litters has the mum had?
- How have the puppies been socialised?
- ‘Can you meet all of the puppies?
- have the puppies had any health problems?
There are also strict laws in Luxembourg about dog ownership, with additional requirements for those who own breeds officially listed as dangerous. There is more informationhere: and your vet will also be able to guide you.
Purebred Cats
You can find information about Purebred cats through the Lux-Cat-Club asbl.
Website
Tel: 371 569
