9 Pet shop sales banned3 Partly restricted18 Allowed
| Country | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Austria | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Dogs and cats may only be sold by registered breeders (from their own litters) or rehomed through approved shelters — not in pet shops or public places. |
| Belgium | Partly restricted | Restricted by region. Brussels and Flanders forbid selling dogs and cats in pet shops and markets; Wallonia limits sales to approved breeders and bans importing puppies for sale. |
| Bulgaria | Allowed | Allowed. Pet shops may sell dogs and cats, which must be microchipped. |
| Croatia | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Croatia’s Animal Protection Act prohibits selling dogs, cats and ferrets in pet shops. |
| Cyprus | Allowed | Allowed in licensed pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. |
| Czechia | Allowed | Allowed. Traders must be registered. |
| Denmark | Partly restricted | Partly. Since February 2022 puppies may not be sold in pet shops or public places; there is no equivalent ban for kittens. |
| Estonia | Allowed | Allowed for dogs (though rare) — sales at markets and on the street are banned. Cats may be sold in pet shops. |
| Finland | Allowed | Allowed, with rules on minimum age and information for buyers; animals may not be displayed in shop windows. |
| France | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Since January 2024 pet shops may not sell dogs or cats on their premises (Rural Code art. L. 214-6-3); they may only connect buyers with breeders. |
| Germany | Allowed | Allowed. Germany has no national ban on pet shop sales; puppies may not leave their mother before 8 weeks. |
| Greece | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found; only registered breeders and sales establishments may advertise dogs and cats. |
| Hungary | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops and markets, but not on the street. |
| Ireland | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops and markets, but not on the street. Sellers of more than six pets a year must be registered. |
| Italy | Allowed | Allowed. Dogs must be at least two months old, microchipped and registered before sale. |
| Latvia | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned in pet shops — though sales at markets and on the street are still allowed. |
| Lithuania | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. |
| Luxembourg | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Dogs and cats may not be sold in pet shops, at markets or on the street. |
| Malta | Allowed | Allowed in licensed pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. |
| Netherlands | Allowed | Allowed. Traders must be registered and hold a certificate of competence; puppies and kittens must be at least 7 weeks old. |
| Norway | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found. |
| Poland | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Dogs and cats may only be sold from the place where they were bred, not in pet shops, at markets or fairs. |
| Portugal | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Dogs and cats may not be sold in pet shops, at markets or on the street — only at the breeder’s. |
| Romania | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, kennels and catteries, with written care information for the buyer. |
| Slovakia | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, at markets and on the street. |
| Slovenia | Allowed | Allowed, with written care information for the buyer and minimum ages (8 weeks for puppies, 12 for kittens). |
| Spain | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Since September 2024 (Law 7/2023) dogs, cats and ferrets may not be sold or displayed in pet shops — only by registered breeders, directly. |
| Sweden | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned in pet shops and similar establishments. |
| Switzerland | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found. |
| United Kingdom | Partly restricted | Restricted. Under “Lucy’s Law” (England 2020, then Wales and Scotland), pet shops and other third-party sellers may not sell puppies or kittens under 6 months — they must be bought from the breeder or adopted. |