🏪 Pet Shop Puppy & Kitten Sale Bans in Europe
A growing number of European countries ban pet shops from selling puppies and kittens, to cut off impulse buys and the illegal puppy trade. Where shops may still sell, most countries set a minimum age and require the animal to be microchipped first.
9 Pet shop sales banned3 Partly restricted18 Allowed
| Country | Status | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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. | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| Bulgaria | Allowed | Allowed. Pet shops may sell dogs and cats, which must be microchipped. | Official text |
| Croatia | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Croatia’s Animal Protection Act prohibits selling dogs, cats and ferrets in pet shops. | Official text |
| Cyprus | Allowed | Allowed in licensed pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. | Official text |
| Czechia | Allowed | Allowed. Traders must be registered. | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| Estonia | Allowed | Allowed for dogs (though rare) — sales at markets and on the street are banned. Cats may be sold in pet shops. | Official text |
| Finland | Allowed | Allowed, with rules on minimum age and information for buyers; animals may not be displayed in shop windows. | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| Germany | Allowed | Allowed. Germany has no national ban on pet shop sales; puppies may not leave their mother before 8 weeks. | Official text |
| Greece | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found; only registered breeders and sales establishments may advertise dogs and cats. | Official text |
| Hungary | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops and markets, but not on the street. | Official text |
| Ireland | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops and markets, but not on the street. Sellers of more than six pets a year must be registered. | Official text |
| Italy | Allowed | Allowed. Dogs must be at least two months old, microchipped and registered before sale. | Official text |
| Latvia | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned in pet shops — though sales at markets and on the street are still allowed. | Official text |
| Lithuania | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. | Official text |
| Luxembourg | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned. Dogs and cats may not be sold in pet shops, at markets or on the street. | Official text |
| Malta | Allowed | Allowed in licensed pet shops, but not at markets or on the street. | Official text |
| Netherlands | Allowed | Allowed. Traders must be registered and hold a certificate of competence; puppies and kittens must be at least 7 weeks old. | Official text |
| Norway | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found. | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| Romania | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, kennels and catteries, with written care information for the buyer. | Official text |
| Slovakia | Allowed | Allowed in pet shops, at markets and on the street. | Official text |
| Slovenia | Allowed | Allowed, with written care information for the buyer and minimum ages (8 weeks for puppies, 12 for kittens). | Official text |
| 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. | Official text |
| Sweden | Pet shop sales banned | Yes, banned in pet shops and similar establishments. | Official text |
| Switzerland | Allowed | No national ban on pet shop sales was found. | Official text |
| 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. | SI 2019/1218 (England) |
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General information, not legal advice. Laws change and local authorities often add stricter rules. Each row links to its source and was checked on the date shown at the top — confirm with your local authority or a lawyer before relying on it.