The 2017 Russian Dog Walking Law

In February of this year, development of the draft Federal Law "On the Responsible Treatment of Animals and Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation" began. So, what will owners need to know and consider before taking their pets out on city streets?

General Provisions

Legislation governing walking dogs, came into force in 2017 immediately after its publication on July 31. According to Part 1 of Article 1, the document was developed to ensure humane treatment of animals and solely for the purpose of their protection.

Article 3 explains the main terms used throughout the Federal Law, such as:

• owner – an individual or legal entity that owns an animal by right of ownership or for another reason;
• walking – taking a pet outside the boundaries of its permanent place of residence (except in the case of transportation);
• Pets are creatures kept by individuals and under their permanent or temporary supervision.

The provisions of the bill set out below do not apply to:

• hunting dog breeds that humans use to catch other creatures;
• on the agricultural system and the animals involved in it;
• on laboratory test subjects.

Key requirements

Dog walking regulations, created primarily for densely populated cities and other large towns, are set out in Parts 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Article 14 of the Federal Law. This document requires owners to ensure, first and foremost, that surrounding citizens, animals, and the property of individuals and legal entities are safe from their pets. Therefore, the dog walking law further specifies the owner's responsibilities, who must:

• Prevent your dog from roaming freely and unsupervised on highways, in elevators, in multi-apartment residential buildings, in courtyards and entryways, on sports and playgrounds, near clinics, hospitals, schools, lyceums, universities, kindergartens, and public catering establishments.
• Keep your pet on a leash, and if it requires special care, also wear a muzzle. This rule only applies in areas marked with permitting signs or in designated areas.

• Always supervise your dog. Leaving your dog unattended may result in an administrative fine of 1,000 to 3,000 rubles. Leaving your pet leashed for a short period of time is permitted near a store, healthcare facility, or any other premises where pets are prohibited.
• Do not use the principle of physical or psychological baiting (exceptions include service dogs or situations of necessary defense).
• Immediately remove pet waste from public areas that pollute the environment (penalty for failure to comply: 1,000 to 2,000 rubles).
• Always put a collar on your pet with a phone number or address where you can return the lost dog.
• Do not enter areas with animals where walking is prohibited by local government regulations.
• Use a carrier or any other restriction on the animal's movement while traveling in transport.
• Be sober.
• Be over 12 years of age when walking large animals or when appearing with them in public places or on public transport. Unaccompanied children are not allowed to accompany animals taller than 40 cm at the withers.

Important! Puppies under six months of age and those no taller than 35 cm at the withers can be taken outside without a muzzle.

The dog walking law, introduced in Russia in 2017, now prohibits walking potentially dangerous breeds without a leash and muzzle anywhere except in fenced areas owned by the owners themselves.

Other citizens must be informed of the presence of such a creature nearby by means of a special warning sign or notice posted at the entrance to the premises. The development of a list of potentially dangerous breeds is still ongoing, and therefore this rule will only come into effect in from June 1, 2018.

Punishments

Article 23 of the 2017 law regulating dog walking in Moscow and other cities states that violation of these requirements may subject owners to civil, administrative, and even criminal liability in accordance with Russian law.

Read also:

• How to train a dog to wear a leash and collar
• How to train a dog to wear a muzzle
• How to teach a dog commands: a list of commands