Dog walking regulations in 2018

Many people dream of owning a dog, but not everyone truly understands the burden it places on the owner's shoulders, as they become responsible not only for the pet's life and health, but also for its interactions with others. The latter is especially important for owners, as one of the challenges in Russia today is dog walking regulations and the mandatory compliance of all dog owners.

What does the law say?

Starting from January 1, 2018, amendments to the Law on Responsible Treatment of Animals came into force in the country, which also affected the rules for walking pets.

First, when walking your pet, you must ensure the safety of your pet, other animals, people, and their property. Previously (dating back to Soviet times), all dogs were allowed in public places only on a leash and wearing a muzzle. Now, when crossing roads, playgrounds, or sports fields, and when in common areas for residents of apartment buildings, a leash is sufficient. Exceptions are fighting breeds and large pets weighing over 15 kg. A short leash is recommended, allowing you to control your pet if necessary. A tag with the owner's contact information and the dog's registration information must be attached to the collar or bridle.

Secondly, dog owners will have to pay special attention to street cleanliness. New amendments to the 2018 dog walking law require owners to prevent their pets from polluting the environment. Otherwise, they must promptly clean up the waste with special bags and a dustpan or face a fine.

However, by attempting to comply with the latter requirement, citizens risk violating sanitary and epidemiological regulations, which prohibit storing animal excrement with household waste. This means that bags containing dog waste cannot be disposed of in municipal trash cans. Dog crates are the optimal option in this case, but they are only just beginning to appear in Russian cities.

Where can I go for a walk?

Free-roaming (without a leash or muzzle) of dogs is permitted in designated fenced areas, or in vacant lots, gullies, and green spaces, provided the safety of those present is ensured. However, finding designated areas, even in large towns, can be quite difficult. Some cities simply post signs indicating whether walking animals in a given area is permitted or prohibited. Furthermore, walking pets is strictly prohibited by law:

• on the territory of children's playgrounds;
• at a distance closer than 30 m from the entrances of apartment buildings.
• in areas adjacent to educational and medical institutions;
• in areas related to cultural and sports institutions;
• in places where large numbers of people gather (except parks);

Other walking rules

In addition to the restrictions listed above, the law establishes a number of other requirements for dog walking:

• Only sober adults are allowed to walk animals in the city.
• In Moscow and some other regions of Russia, children under 12-14 years of age (depending on the breed) are prohibited from walking dogs.

Important! Dog walking is permitted at any time of day or night, but between 11:00 PM and 7:00 AM, owners are required to take all necessary measures to ensure a quiet environment while walking their animals.

• Do not let your pet off the leash in public places, even if it is wearing a muzzle.
• Do not enter areas where walking dogs is prohibited by regional laws. These areas are marked with appropriate signs.
• When traveling in transport, use means that restrict the animal’s ability to move (carrier, leash, muzzle, collar, including a choke collar).

Penalties

Administrative liability for violating the new dog walking rules falls on dog owners. Violators face penalties in the form of fines:

• for ordinary citizens – 3-4 thousand rubles;
• officials – 30-50 thousand rubles;
• legal entities – 100-150 thousand rubles.

Moreover, in the case of repeated violations recorded during the year, the amount of fines increases significantly:

• for ordinary citizens – up to 10-20 thousand rubles;
• for officials – up to 50-100 thousand rubles;
• for legal entities – up to 700 thousand - 1 million rubles.

In addition to a fine, in some cases the offender faces confiscation of the pet.

The new rules also provide for fines:

• 1000-5000 rubles for walking a pet by an owner who is intoxicated;
• 1,000-3,000 rubles for failing to register a pet in the Animal Registry. However, it's worth noting that dog owners have three years from the date the new law comes into effect to register.

Fines for walking a dog without a muzzle are regulated by regional laws. For example, in Moscow, you can walk your pet without a muzzle unless you plan to visit stores, markets, beaches, playgrounds, or use public transportation. In such cases, it is mandatory to muzzle your dog, regardless of its size or breed. Otherwise, you will be fined 1,000-2,000 rubles (in accordance with Article 5.1, paragraph 3 of the Moscow Code of Administrative Offenses).

Russian dog-keeping culture is far from ideal: dogs are often seen off-leash in public places, and unmuzzled dogs roam around courtyards, sometimes leading to tragic consequences for both other people and the pets themselves. Therefore, it's important for owners who truly love their pets and want to avoid unpleasant incidents to do everything possible to ensure their pets don't become a nuisance to others.

Read also:

• Law on keeping dogs
• The 2017 Russian Dog Walking Law
• How to train a dog to wear a muzzle