As the title says I’m an American working here in Belgium and I’m wanting to get my wife a dog. We are here officially as well. I read through some I would need a crime thing with local municipalities as well just trying to understand if it is even possible
Downloading/requesting your criminal record in the municipality you live in is very easy, just a couple of button clicks. Just google your municipality's name + "strafblad"
There isn’t an issue for me not being a born or naturalized Belgian living in wallonia?
No worries, note that you don't need a full criminal record, just the animal adoption paper (proving you have no convictions specifically for abusing animals). If you are comfortable sending me your postcode/commune by DM I can find the page to request it for you and prepare an email ;)
Is this something new? I've adopted multiple dogs and was never asked for anything like that?
2-3 years ago I think? But there are quite a few exceptions honestly
It depends. You do have a “verblijfskaart/ document de séjour” right? The ones that look like an ID card but show you have the right to live/ work here without being a citizen. Normally you can check with it on the government websites for any official stuff during your stay here.
You don't need the criminal records for that only the "animal adoption" criminal report, usually the procedure is even much simpler. Like for my municipality, criminal records are complicated, animal adoption paper are just one click away
What?
Certificat de bonne vie et de mœurs ? Should be able to ask for one via itsme on your municipality webpage
Depends on how long he's been here. Seeing as he is a US immigrant: he might have to get that from his home state.
True
Where I’m from there is no record like that. As if you have no criminal record you essentially “don’t exist” so I’d assume they would be able to provide me one from my local municipal
I think it's also a requirement when you immigrate. I immigrated from The Netherlands, so it might be a European thing. It's essentially an official document that states you do not have a criminal record. Very common for government employment as well or jobs where you work with confidential data.
It’s been a while, but from what I remember before my immigration was that i had to contact the FBI and they were able to send me something.
https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/criminal-records.html
https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/identity-history-summary-checks/identity-history-summary-checks-faqs
I think it refers to a document stating you have never harmed an animal before. Otherwise, people who were convicted of animal abuse could still buy / adopt a dog.
https://www.wallonie.be/fr/actualites/bien-etre-animal-le-permis-de-detention-est-entre-en-vigueur
In Wallonia now you need a paper from commune to adopt an animal. IT's close to "extrait de casier judiciaire", but with (usually) a simplified procedure and concerning only convictions for animal abuse. it's more of less recent.
that's really cool!
Yeah, I'm not crazy about how it's been done (agriculture/breeders excluded, not for individual to individual, not for sales across regio...) but it's a step in the right direction and the issues that concern me are honestly not easy to solve.
During Tellier's mandate
I adopted 4 times a dog and never had to provide that...
Just a comment that having a dog is a great responsibility and takes efforts. So think we'll before getting into this. Like a child he will pee poop everywhere in the toddler phase. Please think before you go ahead. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
I’ve had dogs before lol. Been a trainer for my German shepherd. Not asking about how to take care just how to adopt 👍.
Perfect! Then you adopt as many as possible 😀
Sorry for going offtopic but why does one need a blank criminal record to adopt a dog? Do criminals have a proven record of being bad for dogs. I would think a dog might improve the criminal's behavior because of the love a dog would give them? I'm not into dogs or criminals so a bit clueless about this.
From what I read it’s to ensure the owner isn’t a habitual animal abuser. For example in the United States of America if you are prosecuted as a dog fighter you can’t have a dog for a while.
In wallonia at least, it's not really a criminal record, but more a pet permit you can get at the municipality that everyone have unless they deny you to have it in case of animal abuse.
That makes more sense to me. I read of people being banned from ever owning pets again because of animal abuse. Never heard of someone needing a blank criminal record for owning a pet.
In Wallonia now you need a paper from commune to adopt an animal. IT's close to "extrait de casier judiciaire", but with (usually) a simplified procedure and concerning only convictions for animal abuse. it's more of less recent.
It's to prevent criminals from buying chiwawas.
But then how are we going to identify them as criminals?
You'll find all the required informations here : Bien-être animal - Permis de détention - FAQ
Basically, you have to request the info to your "commune", and they should be able to provide it online, if you're domiciled there.
Also note that even if you are in Wallonia, if you adopt in Brussels/Flanders, you don't need the paper to prove no conviction for animal abuse, and from individudal to individual you are (usually) good as well.
If you’re in the Dutch part you don’t need any government approval.
The Flanders government website https://www.adopteereendier.be has a registry of all available dogs and their profiles. It’s where I found my little darling.
Good luck!
I don’t live in the Dutch part. I’m in the wallonia area. If I drive to the Flanders do I still need to jump through these hoops? I would love to adopt some of those just looking through that link
Might be best to contact the shelter and ask them. I think you need to register your animal with a local animal clinic, and so the crime record might still be needed.
A police extract is actually not that hard to request and obtain, it’s usually a one liner that states they don’t have any records of you
I’m not perfectly sure, but a friend of mine got herself a rat from a Flanders shelter and no one asked her for the government permission required in Wallonia. But it’s really easy to get one, so it’s worth doing regardless, just in case your landlord or neighbours are dicks. All it takes is an email to your town.