Are stores forced to accept animals in France? (illustration) (Pixabay / Elioenai)
Host Julien Courbet revealed on his X account that he was “fired” from a store because he was with his dog. The law does not set a general framework on this subject and non-food stores are therefore often free to set their rules.
The famous animator Julien Courbet regretted having been made
“fire”
from a Lacoste store due to the presence of his dog.
“It’s a shame to have an animal as an emblem and to refuse them”
he wrote on X on January 4, a few moments after experiencing this mishap, recalling however that the store was within its rights.
A vague legal framework
But what exactly does French law say on this subject?
“Very few things”
according to lawyer Boris Ruy, who was questioned by
LSA
. For food businesses, no text would set a legal framework at national level. It is therefore essentially a question of
“local regulations, often similar from one department to another”
explains the lawyer.
“In Paris, for example, a 1979 prefectural decree prohibits dogs in food stores”
.
For non-food businesses, as is the case in the incident denounced by Julien Courbet, the law does not set any strict framework there either. Each store can therefore establish its own rules and can therefore refuse animals. The Lacoste store was therefore well within its rights.
“In the absence of a manifest infringement of a right or freedom, the store operator has a certain latitude, provided that it clearly displays its rules”
warns the lawyer.
