In France, every transfer of a dog, sold or given, comes with a transfer of ownership (attestation de cession). It's the document that proves the change of owner and tells the buyer their rights. Its content is set by the Rural Code (article L214-8) and by the order of 31 July 2012.
When to hand it over
The transfer of ownership is handed over when the puppy is delivered to its new owner. Two conditions must be met before that day:
- the puppy is at least 8 weeks old;
- the buyer received and signed their engagement certificate at least 7 days before.
The mandatory mentions
The transfer of ownership includes in particular:
| Heading | Content |
|---|---|
| The seller | Name or company name and address |
| The buyer | Name and address |
| The animal | Species, breed or the mention "does not belong to a breed", sex, date of birth, identification number, category where relevant |
| The sale | Price including taxes, date of sale and date of delivery |
| The guarantees | The species' redhibitory defects, their time limits and the remedies |
| The documents handed over | The list of what goes with the puppy |
| The buyer's commitment | Their knowledge of the animal's needs |
A dog's redhibitory defects
The sale of a dog is covered by the redhibitory defects guarantee (articles L213-1 onwards of the Rural Code). For dogs, the list in article R213-2 includes:
- distemper (maladie de Carré);
- infectious canine hepatitis (Rubarth's disease);
- canine parvovirus;
- hip dysplasia;
- cryptorchidism, for animals over six months;
- retinal atrophy.
Action must be brought within 30 days of delivery. For transmissible diseases, a vet must also have made a suspected diagnosis within shorter time limits specific to each disease: the transfer of ownership states them.
The documents that go with the puppy
On a sale, the puppy leaves with:
- the transfer of ownership;
- an information document on the animal's characteristics and needs, with training advice;
- a veterinary certificate, made out by your vet, which notably attests to the puppy's identification and health;
- where relevant, the birth certificate (puppy registered with the LOF) and the identification card.
Listing the care given (dewormers, vaccinations with their dates, microchipping, vet visit) isn't required word for word, but it's what families expect and it heads off many questions.
With AffixeSale documentsThe transfer of ownership fills itself from the reservation, with the redhibitory defects, the documents handed over and the care recorded in litter tracking.
In short
- The transfer of ownership is mandatory for every transfer, sale or gift.
- It's handed over on delivery, not before 8 weeks and at least 7 days after the engagement certificate.
- It identifies the parties and the animal, states the price and dates, lists the redhibitory defects and the documents handed over.
This guide informs; it isn't legal or veterinary advice. Texts change: check with the authorities or your vet.