Animal Welfare

Nearly 87,000 people live in Heerlen, but did you know that many more animals live in our beautiful city? In Heerlen, we care for and protect our residents, as well as pets. Both the municipality and you can contribute to this effort. 

Who does what and where can you Report? 

Many organizations care for the welfare of our animals. But who does what and where can you Report? And check out tips that improve both our welfare and that of animals, such as the bird feeding ban!

Animal Protection

Is your animal missing? Have you found another animal? Is a wild animal in distress? Or is (temporary) animal shelter needed due to a domestic crisis situation such as detention, eviction, domestic violence, death or hospitalization of the owner? In all these cases, you can turn to the Animal Rescue Service. 

To animal protection

Mendoo

Women who call on "Stay of my Body Parkstad" and women from Parkstad who want to leave their homes because of domestic violence receive assistance through Mendoo to take care of pets in host families. For this purpose, the municipality of Heerlen cooperates with Mendoo.

To Mendoo
 

Animal cruelty

Are you witnessing an animal in distress due to an accident, abuse or neglect? Or do you need an animal ambulance? Then you can call the central number 144. 

Call 144

National Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority

Do you feel that animal welfare is compromised at a farm? Consider farm animals, animals in pet stores or dogs and cats at breeders.

Reporting to National Food and Drug Administration
 

Animal food bank

Unfortunately, not every owner has the ability to buy food for their pets and then often gives them their own food. This does not contain the right minerals and vitamins, which can make animals sick. The pet food bank can help. The following animal food banks operate in Heerlen:

There are also other organizations that can help you if you can no longer afford the cost of caring for your pet for a while. Go to the website of LICG.

Vet

Your veterinarian will help if your pet is sick. If your pet has died, you can leave your pet at the vet's office. And if you wish, you can have your pet cremated at Dierencrematorium Parkstad for a fee.

Green Brigade

The Green Brigade are special investigating officers (boas) of the Province of Limburg. These boa's pay attention to poaching, among other things. Want to make a report? You can do so through the website of the Province of Limburg.

Reporting to the province of Limburg

Note on animal welfare

In Heerlen, we consider animal welfare important. Therefore, the municipality has established various measures and agreements regarding the treatment of animals within our municipality.

Some of these policies are required by law. Think, for example, of rules on safety or spatial planning. We consciously choose an approach that fits our vision of a sustainable and livable city. Therefore, we invest not only in people and stones, but also in nature, biodiversity and animal welfare.

You can read more about it in the Animal Welfare Note. 

Tips:

  1. Do not release balloons

    Birds, fish and other animals mistake the balloons for food and become entangled in the balloon ribbons.

  2. Do not feed ducks and pigeons

    Throughout Heerlen, it is prohibited to feed wildlife such as geese, ducks, pigeons and other birds. This prohibition is included in the APV. Feeding is often well-intentioned, but it is not good for the animals. Bread is unhealthy; it is too fatty and salty. Moreover, the food left lying around attracts animals you'd rather not see, such as rats. And because they are always fed in the same places, more and more birds flock to those places. This causes more and more nuisance from birds and bird droppings.

  3. Use dog off-leash areas

    There are several off-leash areas in Heerlen. There you may let your dog run loose.

  4. Choose a pet that suits you

    Through the website of the National Companion Animal Information Center or the Animal Protection Society get help choosing a pet appropriate to your lifestyle.

  5. Report animal nuisance

    If you are bothered by rats, report it to the municipality. To prevent nuisance from birds, a feeding ban is in place throughout Heerlen (see tip 2).