What to do if dogs are walked on the playground

The Dog Walking Law of 2022 was adopted on December 28, 2018. Its official number is Federal Law No. 498 “On the Responsible Treatment of Animals.” Based on Federal Law No. 248, changes were made to some legislative acts of the Russian Federation. Walking dogs, rules and requirements for keeping them, as well as cats, became the main points of the regulatory document. Since January 1, 2021, it has been included in the current legislation in the country, but some articles have come into force this year, 2022.

Dogs walking on the street

What is written in the law

General rules for walking pets are contained in Art. 13 No. 498-FZ dated December 27, 2018 “On the responsible treatment of animals and on amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation”, namely:

4. Walking pets must be carried out under the condition of mandatory ensuring the safety of citizens, animals, and the safety of the property of individuals and legal entities.

5. When walking a pet, the following requirements must be observed:

1) exclude the possibility of free, uncontrolled movement of the animal when crossing the roadway, in elevators and common areas of apartment buildings, in the courtyards of such buildings, on playgrounds and sports grounds;

2) ensure the cleaning of animal waste products in public places and territories;

3) do not allow the animal to walk outside the places permitted by the decision of the local government for animal walking.

6. Walking a potentially dangerous dog without a muzzle and a leash, regardless of the place of walking, is prohibited, except in cases where the potentially dangerous dog is located in a fenced area owned by the owner of the potentially dangerous dog by right of ownership or other legal basis. A warning sign about the presence of this dog must be made at the entrance to this territory.

Potentially dangerous dog breeds, according to the approved List, include: Akbash, American Bandog, Ambuldog, Brazilian Bulldog, Bully Kutta, purebred Alapaha Bulldog (Otto), Bandog, wolf-dog hybrids, wolf dog, wolf hybrid, Gul Dog, pit bull mastiff, North Caucasian dog, mestizos of these breeds.

In total, according to the law, ensuring safety, cleaning up the dog’s waste products, controlling the animal when crossing the roadway, in the yard, on the sports and playground, in the common areas of apartment buildings - all this must be provided by the owner of the animal. However, all of the above does not mean that you can walk dogs on playgrounds in principle, even if you keep them on a leash. It is unacceptable.

Complaint about walking dogs in the wrong place

Failure to comply with the rule prohibiting walking a pet in places where children play may lead to a complaint against its owner.

Reasons

The reason for the complaint may be walking the dog on the territory of the playground. Moreover, the pet can be muzzled or on a leash. If not, then this creates a threat to others (a dog can frighten or bite a child, an adult, or another animal) and serves as an independent basis for treatment.

This is interesting! From January 1, 2021, walking potentially dangerous dogs (for example, Rottweilers) without a leash and muzzle is permitted only in the fenced area of ​​their owner. For example, in the courtyard of a private house in a city or village. Moreover, there must be a warning sign about the presence of such a dog.

Also, a reason for complaint may be disturbance of peace at night, when, for example, a dog disturbs citizens with its barking.

The problem of dogs walking in inappropriate places has become serious:

And this is how they solved the problem in one of the districts of Nizhnevartovsk:

Contents of the appeal

Table 2. What to write in a complaint

Filing a collective complaint will speed up its consideration and the adoption of necessary measures against the violator.

You can use the sample below to compose your appeal.

Where do we complain?

We address the appeal to:

• local police department (preferably in the name of the head, but the district police officer will deal with the material; in the complaint we demand that action be taken against the violator);
• the administration of the locality, Rospotrebnadzor, the veterinary supervision authority (we describe the problem, ask to install appropriate signs, find a place for a site for dog walkers, take measures, etc.);
• the prosecutor's office (if other departments are deaf to the applicant's problems).

If the dog not only successfully walked on the playground, but also bit a child, his parent or guardian has the right to apply to law enforcement agencies and the court for compensation for the harm caused. And the owner of the dog faces criminal and civil liability.

Material on the topic: Where to complain about stray dogs.

Ways to contact

You can submit an appeal:

• verbally (for example, call the police department);
• in writing (by sending the claim by registered mail or by taking it to the reception desk of the selected department);
• through the Internet.

The last option is most accessible to residents of large cities.

Online appeal

For example, Muscovites can complain about inadequate dog walkers on the Our City Moscow portal by selecting the object category “Yard Territories.” Here you will need to indicate, for example, that the territory of such and such a playground is not cleaned after dogs are walked on it, and therefore poses a real danger to the health of children playing on it.

Rice. 2. Where Muscovites can leave a message about a problem with dog owners.

If there is a need to complain about departments that ignore complaints against dog owners, you can leave a request through the website of the Prosecutor General’s Office. To do this, select the “Contacts”, “Internet reception” tab and the appropriate prosecutor’s office for the subject. The system will redirect the user to the desired department.

According to these rules:

1.10. It is prohibited to appear with a dog without a leash and muzzle in shops, institutions, playgrounds, markets, beaches and in transport, as well as walking dogs in the territories of healthcare institutions, kindergartens, schools, other educational institutions and institutions working with minors.

2.2. Animal owners are required to maintain the sanitary condition of the home and surrounding area. It is prohibited for dogs to pollute entrances, staircases, elevators, as well as playgrounds, paths, and sidewalks. If the dog leaves excrement in these areas, it must be cleaned up by the owner.

2.6. It is prohibited for drunk persons and children under 14 years of age to walk dogs or appear with them in public places and on public transport.

2.7. You need to take your dog for a walk on a leash with a tag attached to the collar, which indicates the dog’s name, owner’s address, and telephone number. You can let your dog off the leash only in sparsely populated areas. Vicious dogs should wear a muzzle.

About large and potentially dangerous dog breeds

The list of dog breeds known to be dangerous to others was approved by the Government of the Russian Federation on July 31, 2021. However, changes in legislation regarding aggressive animals only came into force in 2021.

The dog walks in a muzzle and on a leash

Most of them are not species that can be found on the street every day. Many Russians don’t even know these names: wolfdog, bandog, ambuldog and pit bullmastiff, akbash, bully kutta.

Husky, children's favorite Labrador, and the well-known German Shepherd are not small breeds. They are easy to teach rules of behavior and commands, but they cannot be in public transport or places where there are potential crowds of people.

These pets fall under the category of large breeds with a height of more than 40 cm at the withers. Such animals should not be allowed to cross without a short leash and muzzle only on the basis of training or friendliness, which their owners often use as an argument.

A small dog

Subtleties of walking according to the law

The Staff or Shepherd must be equipped accordingly. For a small dog in transport in 2022, you need to purchase appropriate armor.

Why you can't walk dogs on the playground

Firstly, animal waste products pose a danger from the point of view of the child’s health. By crawling on the ground, grass, soil, playing in the sandbox, etc., children can inadvertently pick up parasites or various diseases - this is the opinion of pediatricians.

Secondly, if a dog bites a child, then due to the threat of rabies or tetanus, he will need to undergo a course of treatment (in addition to fear, pain, etc.). In this situation, the dog owner may face criminal liability. The injured party may also file a claim in court to recover medical costs if personal injury has occurred.

Thirdly, the children’s psyche has not yet strengthened, and even in the absence of the threat of an animal attack, the child may become very frightened and begin to stutter - for example, even if a large breed dog suddenly just comes close to the baby with the harmless intention of playing.

Why do you need a muzzle?

A muzzle is a device placed on an animal's face. In urban conditions, they most often put it on a dog so that it:

• didn't bite;
• did not pick up various objects from the ground;
• I didn’t dig the soil with my nose and didn’t try to taste it.

Staff in a muzzle

The accessory prevents the mouth from opening wide, but does not interfere with breathing. A muzzled dog is easier to control and is limited in its actions. If everything is secured correctly, then nothing threatens the surrounding people and the owner of the animal showing aggression.

Important! Muzzles are designed for safety and do not cause significant discomfort. The law obliges dog owners to wear guards on their dogs, but they do not have to wear them all the time.

In an area fenced off from outsiders, even large fighting dogs can be kept without muzzles.

Nylon muzzle

Where to go if dogs are being walked on the playground

Complaints about dog owners who use playgrounds for walking are accepted by the city/district administration and the district police officer. You can submit complaints to both authorities in parallel.

Collective complaints are most effective, therefore, to achieve the greatest effect, it is recommended to involve other parents whose children use the playground in drawing up the document. Photo and video recording of violations can be used as evidence, and all-seeing and all-knowing pensioner grandmothers can act as witnesses.

Finding a violator can be a difficult task, but that is the job of the district police officer. The situation is simplified if the offender is your neighbor and you know where he lives. To begin with, they can hold an explanatory conversation with the violator, warn him, and in the future fines are possible (the exact amounts of fines can be found in the law on administrative offenses of each specific region).

Fine for violating the law on walking

The punishment for violating the new law differs in different regions, since it is not specified in its text, but depends on the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO) in force in the territory of the subject of the federation - city, region, republic or territory.

Walking pets is prohibited

In this regard, it is worth noting the following:

• in Moscow, monetary penalties range from 1–2 thousand rubles;
• the authorities of St. Petersburg considered it necessary to double the amount of payment and fine violators of the rules for walking dogs in the amount of 3 to 5 thousand rubles;
• The Krasnoyarsk Territory makes exceptions for those who perform official duties with a dog; for other owners, the monetary penalty will be 1–5 thousand rubles;
• There is a similar situation with fines for walking dogs illegally in the Krasnodar Territory.

Fine for walking a pet in the wrong place: subtleties

Graduation has not yet been adopted in the Moscow region. But there is reason to believe that public outcry will accelerate the adoption of a system of administrative penalties, taking into account the specifics of rural areas and the type of settlement. The problem will be resolved based on the Moscow experience.

Rules for keeping dogs

The government of St. Petersburg has long ago adopted the Law on Administrative Offenses, according to which the provisions of the new federal regulatory document have long been implemented. In 2004, in St. Petersburg, a document was published by the Committee for Improvement, which explicitly prohibits walking dogs and any other pets.

The parks and squares of the magnificent city are now patrolled by Committee inspectors, who are still warning owners about the legally supported possibilities of a one-time fine.

The lower limit of punishment for walking a dog in the wrong place is 3 thousand rubles. Violation a second time may entail more significant administrative liability.

How else can you influence the offender?

Public censure and publicity can be an effective tool here, so sometimes parents or simply concerned people publish photos of violators in a city group on social networks - often after that they do not appear on playgrounds.

Let us remind you that on the social network “Vmeste.ru” you have the opportunity to join the community at your home address, which can also be used in the fight against unscrupulous dog owners. By publishing a corresponding post in the community of your home or area, you can attract the attention of your neighbors to the problem - it is unlikely that those who walk their dogs on playgrounds will want to experience public censure in person after a large number of angry comments on the Internet.

Regulatory framework

Legal documents on the topic of dog walking:

• Federal Law No. 498 of December 27, 2018 – on the rules for the treatment of animals;
• Law of the Russian Federation No. 4979-1 of May 14, 1993 “On Veterinary Medicine”;
• Rules for keeping dogs and cats in cities and other populated areas of the RSFSR from 1981;
• Federal Law No. 52 of March 30, 1999 “On the sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population.”

A number of regions have their own rules for keeping pets, which usually duplicate federal documents.

Material on the topic: Where to complain about police inaction.

Collective complaint

If a conversation in private did not give the desired result, and the problem remains unresolved, you can try to talk again, but not alone. The injured party should gather people who also suffer from the dog’s actions and contact the pet owner collectively.

Such a conversation can take place immediately by a group of people or by each person communicating with the culprit separately. It is necessary to try to convey to the dog owner that no one is against his pet and does not wish him the slightest harm. The only requirement is a quiet life, which the pet owner himself can provide.

You can try to give useful advice to your neighbor if you know how to deal with the problem. It is worth recommending that he send the dog to a training school, where its ardor will be tamed and its upbringing will be better. Or offer to walk the dog at a time when there is a minimum number of children in the yard, to whom it can cause serious harm.

If a neighbor is an adequate person, then he will listen to the advice of those around him and will do everything to get rid of the problem in the bud. However, if victims of dog abuse had to deal with a stubborn and selfish animal lover, then even a collective conversation will not bring much sense. In such cases, you should contact higher authorities, having first studied the specifics of keeping dogs according to the law of the Russian Federation.

Coming to mutual agreement - is it possible?

If a dog living nearby causes inconvenience to a citizen, then he has every right to express his complaints to its owner. First of all, you need to try to calmly convey to the pet owner the information that the animal is interfering with people’s normal lives.

You should talk to a neighbor whose dog is causing any harm to others with confidence and assertiveness. However, one should not “go too far” and immediately begin the dialogue with threats in the form of going to court or, even worse, threatening him with personal reprisal against the animal. Such communication rarely leads to a positive result. Most often, it only aggravates the situation, after which the pet owner will deliberately not take any measures to solve the problem.

It is necessary to convey to the neighbor in a calm manner exactly how the dog is interfering, what problems arise because of this, and what can be done in this case. You should let him understand that you do not want to harm the pet, but only want to get rid of a problem that is interfering with the life of both you and the owner of the animal. At the end of the conversation, you should express the hope that the issue will still be resolved.

From a psychological point of view, a properly constructed dialogue should help to reach a compromise. However, in reality it is quite difficult to solve the tête-à-tête problem. This is due to the elementary reluctance of the culprit to take any measures to pacify his animal or the usual selfish attitude of the dog owner towards others. In such cases, repeating the conversation alone 5-10 times is pointless.

Basic penalties and fines

According to the law, failure to comply with the prescribed walking standards is punishable by a fine of 1-2 thousand rubles if the owners go with their pets to areas where walking animals is prohibited. 5 thousand rubles will have to be paid when the breeder deliberately set the dog on a person, and the latter received physical injuries. You will be fined 2 thousand rubles for walking with your pets in areas that belong to kindergartens. And sanctions in the amount of 2.5 thousand rubles are imposed for fights between dogs.

Current legislation allows pets to be walked at a distance of 30 meters from an apartment building. In this case, breeders are required to clean up waste products left behind by their pets.

Attention! The amount of fines depends on the region of residence of the breeder and the number of illegal actions committed. The amounts indicated are the maximum penalties provided for in such cases.

Basically, penalties are imposed for regular violation of the law. When citizens first apply, local police officers usually limit themselves to an explanatory conversation with dog breeders. This rule does not apply to cases where dogs cause physical harm to the health of a third party.

Contacting animal control

If a conversation with a neighbor did not yield any results and the inconvenience caused by his pet still takes place in the lives of those around him, then more serious actions should be taken. This includes contacting animal control. Its employees should only submit a report if there is a suspicion that the dog is being improperly cared for:

• the animal is constantly dirty with crumpled hair;
• the dog constantly howls and is left alone for a long time;
• the pet is kicked out into the street in the cold or hot season.

Not in all cases do animal control officers take a pet from its owner. However, they can significantly influence him and make him think about his actions and the proper care of the animal.

In no case!

“In war, all means are fair” says a popular proverb, the origin of which is attributed to the name of Napoleon. However, it is definitely not suitable for dealing with the inconvenience caused by a neighbor's dog. If the neighbors are not satisfied with anything in her behavior, then you should not try to take all possible measures at once. Under no circumstances should you attempt to cause any harm to the animal! Firstly, this is prohibited by law, and secondly, dogs are living beings just like people.

Instead, you can offer (or even give, if possible) a special training whistle to your neighbor, the sound of which is inaudible to human hearing. Such a device is available only for a dog's ear and allows you to train a command in it to stop barking.

The trend towards living together with a pet is growing every year. Animals can often be a nuisance to neighbors, who have a responsibility to know their rights and fight for them. There is only one thing you should not do - harm the dog. It is not her fault that the owner failed to properly raise and train her. And don’t forget about the words of the actor who called this animal our friend.

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