Does Paris treat pets like a dog? If the streets of the city are surveyed by many doggies, here sporting a pendant jewel, there a tailor-made jacket, it would seem that our dear four-legged friends do not all know the idyllic life that one could imagine. How else to explain that the inhabitants of the Parisian agglomeration are less likely to own a pet than the rest of France? According to a survey by Mars Petcare – an agri-food company marketing many brands for pets – carried out for OpinionWay, only 43% of them live with a pet, compared to 59% on average in the rest of France. They are even only 37% to own a dog or a cat (against 51% at the national level). If the survey highlights the lack of space or relations with the neighborhood, 20 minutes questioned its readers to better understand the obstacles to the adoption of an animal in Paris and in the Paris region. They witness.
Two elements emerge from the comments of our readers. The first is that having a cat, a rabbit, a rat or a turtle is not a real concern. Apart from the lack of space, the constraints are not that different than elsewhere. The second point to emerge from our non-exhaustive survey is much more telling: Paris is not suitable for dogs. “It’s very difficult to have one and to guarantee its development,” confirms Elias. For him and many of our readers, the City of Light does not shine by its welcome. The cost and supply of housing lead many residents to live in apartments that are too cramped for even a small dog. Judith, who grew up surrounded by dogs, gave up adopting one when she arrived in the capital: “It’s too complicated, there is a lack of space here. Even my cat, I waited until I had a two-room apartment to adopt it. “Alexandre finds himself in the same situation and waits to” leave Paris to adopt a large dog. “The size of the accommodation could be compensated by an exterior, but here again, this is too rare for Willow who cannot crack” without a garden or a terrace “.
The owners can always fall back on the caniparks which are everywhere in the capital. Unfortunately these turn out to be insufficient and unsatisfactory for our readers, like Marion who struggles to find one nearby. Magali, a resident of the 3rd arrondissement, is lucky enough to have one right next to her home, at the crossroads of rue du Temple and rue des Haudriettes. But this one is dirty, she says, and the doors don’t close properly. For Mathieu, who came from the provinces with his dog, the disappointment is the same, the dog park he frequents has “a floor with concrete slabs” unsuitable for canines. In addition to seeing too little of it, everyone agrees that the capital’s dog areas are too small to give free rein to the energy of the animals: “They are unsuited to basic needs. They need to run, to dig, to swim, ”explains Mehdi.
Difficult to take transport
There are many parks and gardens in the capital where dogs could let off steam. But then again… it was a failure. First of all because not everyone allows entry to our four-legged friends, and in the others, the leash is in order … As in the rest of the city. “Keeping them on a leash is so sad for them”, Catherine regrets. Francesca agrees and campaigns for more freedom in green spaces: “Running and playing is part of their well-being. All professionals know it. But we are hunted down like criminals. “Some owners are trying to find solutions without success for the moment, this is the case in the 13th arrondissement where an association in the Gobelins district offers spaces without childish games and with schedules dedicated to dogs.
Traveling in the city is also a problem for 48% of pet owners in the Paris metropolitan area, against only 36% for the rest of France. This is also a point raised by our readers. First, because many Parisians do not have a vehicle or a driving license, according to Willow. It is possible to take public transport in the Paris area, but under certain conditions. The site of the city of Paris indicates that “small dogs locked in bags or baskets as well as guide or assistance dogs are allowed to travel free on public transport”. A rule that some bus drivers do not know according to Catherine who claims to have been refused entry on several occasions with her dog inside a bag. Since 2016, large dogs have also been accepted in metro and RER trains on condition that they are kept on a leash and muzzled, and that they pay a reduced rate transport ticket. Buses are, however, forbidden to them, to the great regret of Jérémy who cannot “fit his 20 kg dog in a bag”.
Parisians are afraid of dogs
The other difficulty related to transport is found in the large hourly amplitude represented by a working day. This is a drag for 23% of people surveyed by OpinionWay. In Île-de-France, with long transport times, the days are long, especially for animals that could be left alone all day. If confinement allows some to overcome this absence, it remains prohibitive for Nawel. Especially since her hierarchy would not admit that she could be absent “for a veterinary emergency”. Fortunately, others found the parade like Agathe, who took advantage of a Christmas dinner to discuss the problem with her bosses who eventually agreed that she “take the dog to the office”. Sébastien, agent at the town hall of Levallois, benefits from the same largesse since his employer allows him “within the limits of the respectable” to take with him his faithful companion.
The last difficulty to have a pet in the Parisian agglomeration is… the Parisians. For many, the inhabitants of the capital make the city hostile to dogs in particular. Heavy traffic and driving some can be dangerous for dogs on a leash according to Yannick: “Between bikes, scooters on sidewalks and cars that do not respect red lights, I have to be on non-stop alert when driving. exits. “Maud adds her fear of” violent parking exits and pedestrian crossings not respected “by vehicles. But these are not the only ones questioned by our readers. Laurence is surprised to see the fear of Parisians at the sight of a dog, regretting the deviations, glances and remarks on his passage, “even when they are kept on a leash”. For Marion, the inhabitants of the capital lack awareness of dogs: “They do not know how to behave in their presence, do not know the behaviors to avoid to make sure they are quiet. “