A dog is for life not just for Noel: Macron’s dog in video plea to be kind to rescued pets

France to debate pet adoption bill to combat animal cruelty and abandonment

Emmanuel Macron’s rescue dog has appeared in a video appealing for people to adopt pets this Christmas “with awareness”.  

The French president adopted Nemo, a black male Griffiondor - a cross between a Labrador retriever and wirehaired pointing griffon - from a rescue shelter in August 2017.  

He appeared in a video clip on the politician’s Facebook page alongside the caption: "My story begins with an abandonment. As I was, 100,000 animals are abandoned each year.  

“So at Christmas: adopt them – but adopt with awareness! Welcoming a pet at home means accepting to be responsible for it.  

“Your animal is part of your family, he is counting on you.” 

The video subtitles go on to say a pet adoption bill will be debated in France to combat animal cruelty and abandonment.  

It is hoped 20 million euros will be earmarked to help animal shelters and associations.

Buying and selling of animals via the internet will be better regulated and animal abuse will be more severely punished, while an “awareness certificate” will be created, according to the video.  

The poorest people will also be given financial help to access veterinary care if the bill is passed.  

Nemo was reportedly named after Captain Nemo, the fictional hero of French writer Jules Verne's Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, which is said to be one of his owner’s favourite books.  

President Macron, 42, has been self-isolating at Versailles since testing positive for Covid-19 on 17 December.  

The president’s office on Wednesday said he was showing signs of improvement and BFM TV this week broadcast live images of him chairing a government ministerial meeting via video link.  

Mr Macron said that although he will be working at a slower pace as he recovers, he will continue to tackle top-priority issues such as France's response to the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit.