The province of Vlaams-Brabant has awarded Diest with gold and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw with silver for their animal welfare policies. The 'Animal-Friendly Municipality' labels were presented on October 12 during the provincial study day on animal policy in Leuven. With these distinctions, the province recognizes municipalities that invest structurally in animal welfare and go beyond basic requirements.
Diest receives the gold label for its comprehensive animal welfare initiatives. The city has an animal food bank, collaborates with animal shelters, and informs residents through its communication channels and educational packages for schools. Volunteers also play a significant role, supporting the stray cat approach with shelters and controlled feeding. Additionally, the city assists vulnerable tenants with the sterilization of their pets.
Bart Nevens, deputy for animal policy, emphasizes the importance of municipal efforts: "Municipalities can do a lot for animal welfare. A good stray cat approach, agreements with rescue centers, and attention to pet owners make a difference. With these labels, we recognize administrations that put in extra effort."
Sint-Pieters-Leeuw earns the silver label for its broad and demonstrable commitment. The municipality collaborates with the Blauwe Kruis and the Ark van Pollare for animal shelter and stray cat management. It also regularly consults with the police and raises awareness among residents through various channels. For pest control, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw opts for an animal-friendly trapping system, supplemented by preventive measures, thus combining pest control with animal welfare.
The 'Animal-Friendly Municipality' label, which has existed for several years, has used the renewed label 3.0 since October 1, 2025. The updated criteria better align with current legislation and new challenges in animal welfare. As of September 2026, 32 municipalities had transitioned to the renewed label, and new applications are still being submitted. Municipalities with a label are evaluated annually.
The 32 municipalities with the renewed label are: Merchtem, Diest, Herent, Steenokkerzeel, Keerbergen, Vilvoorde, Bekkevoort, Dilbeek, Tienen, Leuven, Meise, Lubbeek, Grimbergen, Liedekerke, Sint-Pieters-Leeuw, Zemst, Tielt-Winge, Pajottegem, Hoeilaart, Begijnendijk, Linter, Halle, Opwijk, Tervuren, Boortmeerbeek, Pepingen, Kortenberg, Kampenhout, Geetbets, Rotselaar, Kortenaken, and Zoutleeuw.
Deputy Bart Nevens concludes: "We want municipalities to continue strengthening their animal policies and sharing best practices. The initiatives of Diest and Sint-Pieters-Leeuw can inspire other administrations to take the next step themselves."
