Responding to a parliamentary question, Fernand Etgen said that over the past ten years the ministry had received between 50 and 90 reports related to animal wellbeing per year.

“Around 50% of complaints were justified and often concerned hygiene conditions (inadequate cleaning of the animal’s stall, animals living in their waste), animal maintenance (hooves too long, coat in poor state) and general living conditions (lack of drinking water or shelter),” the minister wrote, adding: “During the last ten years I can say there were around 350 confirmed cases of animal cruelty, with a growing trend during the last five years.”

Minister Etgen said that once the new law takes effect, sanctions to prevent animal cruelty would be an effective deterrent. Fines for serious cases can reach up to €200,000 with sentences of up to three years, while repeat offenders may face even higher penalties. Other changes include the power to issue deadlines for offenders to meet required standards.

He added that an awareness-raising campaign would be rolled out once the new law enters into force.

The question was put forward jointly by MPs Max Hahn and Claude Lamberty, after an incident over the summer in which eight dogs were kept in a van in pitiful conditions during a dog show at Luxexpo.