Police toโ Gain Authority to Fine Owners of Aggressiveโ Dogs โขUnder New Bill
MOSCOW – Russian police โฃwillโค soon have the power to issue fines toโข dog owners who violate regulationsโค regarding animal control, โฃfollowing a โคbill authored by Yaroslav Nilov, Chairmanโฃ ofโ the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and โVeterans Affairs. The legislation, currently under consideration, aims to address the increasing number ofโค dog attacks reported across theโค contry.
Currently, reports โofโ dog attacks โฃonโฃ both adults and children are โa near-daily occurrence in Russian news. the bill proposes amending existing laws โto โคallow police officers – particularly district officers familiar with their local areas – to draw โupโข reports โfor violations of the “Non-compliance with the requirements for keeping animals”โข article of the Code โคof Administrative Offenses โฃof the โคRussian Federation. This includes instances of dogsโ being walked without leashes or muzzles, and โallowing “self-walking.”
Nilov argues that, as the police are responsible for maintainingโ public order, oversight of perilous dog ownership falls within their purview.He explains in an explanatoryโ note to the document that mandatory punishment “will help prevent crime,” and that the bill’s purpose is to enhance security in public spaces like courtyards, squares, and parking lots.
the proposed changes reflectโ regulations โคalready in place in some European countries, where dog owners may be required to complete โanimal handling courses and face fines or evenโ criminal charges for violations.Theโ State Duma has alsoโ previouslyโ discussed potential limits on the number of pets โallowed per household, suggesting aโ maximum of one animalโข per 18 square meters of living space.
Nilov, โขinโค a postโข to โhis Telegram channel, emphasized that aggression from fighting dogs in public, and also neglecting leash andโฃ muzzle requirements, constitute violations of โขpet ownership norms. Heโฃ assuresโ the bill is designed to strengthenโ safety for โcitizens.