Dog walking law in 2022: rules and fines in Russia

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

Dog Walking Law 2022: Russia, official text

The Federal Animal Welfare Act has been under discussion for about five years because some of its provisions and clauses have met with harsh criticism from the public, animal rights activists, and even lawyers.

Walking dogs in the city

As a result, the original version was supplemented with adjustments and additional clauses and led to amendments to other legislative acts. The result was rules for dog walking in Russia that did not previously exist. The standard requirements were only in the bill.

This need has existed for a long time.

The 2022 legislation takes this into account. And the law, which lists and establishes dog walking standards, has received the necessary additions starting in 2021.

Walking pet on a leash

The introduction of new legal norms regarding dog walking and repressive norms for violating them did not resolve the pressing problem of the existence of special places for this purpose. In fact, the adoption of the law only stipulated the creation of such by local authorities based on the existing requirements of regional self-government bodies.

However, new dog walking guidelines had to be adopted as there was no legislation in place. There were only local government regulations defining places where pets could be walked. The conditions under which this should be carried out were also specified. The new law included the following points:

1. The need for special equipment for movement in areas not designated as free-running areas for dogs. The dog should not move without a muzzle and a leash in prohibited areas and crowded places.
2. Requirements for points where you can walk your dog are the safety of other animals and people who accompany the pets, the safety of the property of legal entities and individuals.
3. The time when walking is officially permitted and recommended is from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. No one forbids being with a dog on the street at later or earlier times. But it is necessary to comply with the condition - the dog will be walked without violating the silence regime, which is established precisely from 23:00 to 07:00.
4. Without a muzzle and without a leash, a dog may only be in an area specially designated for this purpose by local authorities. The exception is a puppy under 3 months of age, if we are talking about large animals or classified as potentially dangerous breeds. Small breed dogs are allowed to be walked without equipment.
5. It is prohibited to walk dogs while intoxicated, even if there is a leash and muzzle. Now this means an administrative offense and implies a potential and quite significant fine.

Rules for walking without a muzzle on city streets

The owner can walk with the dog in full protective equipment only in places that are not classified as prohibited by the relevant instructions of local authorities. The owner is required by law to clean up after his walking pet if the dog leaves excrement. To do this, you need to have a scoop and spatula with you.

Animal registration rules

After purchasing a dog, the owner is required to register it. Based on the results of registration, the owner is issued a certificate and a token. Such documents are issued by licensed organizations or employees of a state veterinary clinic after vaccination against rabies. It is also possible to implant a chip containing information about the animal and its owner.

These requirements are not mandatory and there is no liability for failure to comply with them (unless there is an emergency). However, strict requirements are imposed on owners of dogs of dangerous breeds. Such dogs must be registered without fail. The owner of such a dog is required to attend a course on the maintenance of this breed before registering. Based on the results, the owner is given a certificate.

Rules for walking dogs in the city

Animals must not be walked in the wrong place. This refers to the area near cafes, canteens, shops and other points of access and stay of people considered collective.

How to walk your pet

Even before the new law was issued, city officials had passed ordinances specifying areas where dogs were prohibited under any conditions met. These include the roadway (even if it is at night and there is no traffic), adjacent areas of multi-storey and apartment buildings.

This also includes sports and children's playgrounds with special equipment, crowded streets, areas of schools and kindergartens, and hospitals.

Amendments to the legislation gave legal status to prohibitions and places where you can walk your dog that previously existed by default or by order of city authorities.

Dogs on leashes and muzzles

Previously, when there were no penalties, residents of apartment buildings were forced to endure dog barking and excrement from the pets of irresponsible owners who walked the dog at their own discretion.

The new walking rules contain a list of places prohibited for animals in the city.

You can complain about their violation. Administrative liability is provided for dog owners who violate Russian legislation. A number of rules must be followed:

1. You can walk your dog in a place specially equipped by the city authorities. For example, in a fenced area where there is a fence and the coating changes with frequency in accordance with established rules.
2. If one is not provided, there must be a specially designated place. For example, a vacant lot between houses, where the owner must ensure safety for other animals and their owners. There are protective measures for this. The upbringing of the dog is also of great importance. She needs to be taught to follow commands and behave correctly in society.
3. Dog breeds classified as dangerous by law cannot be accompanied by a child or intoxicated adult. It is impossible for the fashion for aggressive hybrids or breeds like the pit bull to lead to incidents, the definition of which legally falls not under the scope of the Code of Administrative Offenses, but under a criminal article.

Certificate of vaccinations

In some regions of Russia, such walking rules have been in effect for a long time. For example, in the Sverdlovsk region, for which the regional authorities adopted a corresponding resolution.

They even allow a large dog to stay freely in the yard of their own house only if the surrounding area is securely fenced off. A warning sign - a picture or an inscription - must be installed on the fence.

In 2022, other points of the new law on walking came into force. Guaranteed support for their action will be new decrees of the city authorities. It is also necessary to equip special dog pens where you can walk your pets safely and free of charge.

Legal norms for walking pets

There are certain requirements for a properly equipped walking area. These are size, distance from buildings, landscaping elements. Even if the quality of the coating does not meet the text of the law or GOST, animal owners can file complaints with the city administration.

Where to go if your neighbors dog is constantly barking

What to do if your neighbor’s dog won’t stop barking all day long? It is quite difficult to answer this question unambiguously. Animals often become anxious when left alone in a confined space for a long time. First, you should inform the owner that the dog’s barking and howling does not subside, and this causes discomfort to the neighbors.

If it is established that neighbors are cruel to the animal, beating them, shouting, then you should immediately contact the police. For such cases, a special article has been developed - 245 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Cruelty to Animals”. If there is evidence of this fact (photo or video), then these materials should be presented to the authorities.

If contacted, police officers are required to visit the owner of the animal and check the conditions of detention.

ATTENTION! Look at the completed sample application to the district police officer for violation of the rules for keeping a dog:

You can DOWNLOAD sample complaints from the links below:

1. Application to the district police officer
2. Application to Rospotrebnadzor
3. Statement of claim to court

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.

Responsibility: procedure for involvement and basis

Responsibility for violating the rules for keeping dogs is represented by 3 types:

• Civil.
• Administrative.
• Criminal.

To attract each of them, a separate procedure and grounds are provided.

Civil

Every citizen or organization can file a claim in court for compensation for material damage caused to health, life or property as a result of an animal attack. In addition to material damages, such claims may also result in compensation for moral damages.

Administrative

Administrative sanctions are set at the local level, so the size of the fine may vary in each region. If we talk not about the size, but about the type of punishment, then it is still the same throughout Russia - it is a fine.

The basis is a violation of the rules for keeping and walking dogs, even if no one was injured as a result. That is, the consequences are not important - the fact of the violation itself is important. This may include walking without a muzzle/leash, the animal staying in inappropriate places (playground, dining room, etc.), disturbing the silence after 11 p.m., littering public areas with animal waste, etc.

Administrative liability is held in the following order.

STEP 1. Drawing up a protocol or order of violation by a competent person (animal control inspector in prefectures, local police officers, traffic police officers, veterinary service representatives, public inspectors).

STEP 2. Sending the drafted act to the administrative commissions created under territorial authorities (administrations, councils, etc.).

STEP 3. Based on the results of consideration of the protocol, a resolution or determination is made.

STEP 4. A copy of the decision made is given to the dog’s owner.

STEP 5. If he does not agree with the decision, he can file a complaint with the district court within 10 days from the date of its delivery or receipt. This stage can be considered optional, since the opportunity to appeal the decision is not always used by offenders. They often move straight to the next step.

STEP 6. Payment of the fine at any bank according to the details specified in the resolution.

Criminal

The dog owner may be held criminally liable in the following cases:

If the attack occurred due to negligence and caused serious harm to the victim’s health. Qualifies under Article 118 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation

The concept of “seriousness” is defined by clause 4 of the Russian Federation Regulations dated August 17, 2007 N 522. Harm is considered grave if it: is dangerous to health; led to loss of vision, speech, hearing, any organs as such or their functions; terminated pregnancy; caused mental disorder; led to permanent facial disfigurement; led to a permanent loss of general ability to work by at least one third; contributed to the complete loss of professional ability to work. The sanction of the article provides for punishment in the form of a fine, compulsory or correctional labor, restriction of freedom or arrest.

If the owner deliberately set the dog so that it would cause harm to the life or health of the victim. Depending on the consequences that occur, it may qualify as Art. 105 (murder), Art. 111, 112, 115 of the Criminal Code (intentional infliction of grave, moderate or minor harm to health). The owner of the animal may be punished in the form of deprivation or restriction of freedom, arrest, forced labor, a fine, compulsory or correctional labor. Example. In real life, in the Tver region, a series of episodes took place when Sergei Andreev (a resident of Kuvshinovo) set an American Staffordshire Terrier on women. The court found him guilty and sentenced him to 6 years in a general regime colony. He was also ordered to pay 110 thousand rubles in moral damages to the victims.

If the owner baited the dog, however, no harm was caused as a result of such actions. Theoretically, the owner can be held accountable for such actions under Article 119 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (threat of murder or infliction of grievous bodily harm), but in practice this is very difficult to prove, so Russian courts have not yet passed such a sentence.

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.

Responsibility for the sale of rare animals from the Red Book and illegal hunting in Russia

A few more articles may help attract criminals who hunt rare animals listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation for the purpose of further sale and sale.

Let's look at what penalties are provided.

In addition, the new edition contains two articles:

1. Article 253 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Violation of the legislation of the Russian Federation on the continental shelf and on the exclusive economic zone of the Russian Federation.”
2. Article 258 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation “Illegal hunting”.

They record signs of individual crimes. They can also be held accountable for them. The maximum penalty for illegal hunting is a fine of 500,000 to 1,000,000 rubles, or imprisonment for 3-5 years.

When determining punishment under these articles, the court will take into account the damage caused. The size of a large one will exceed 40,000 rubles, and a particularly large one - 120,000 rubles.

What is considered an offense and is subject to a fine?

It is unacceptable to take a dog without a leash, collar and muzzle to shops, public catering establishments and buildings where crowds of people are possible. It is advisable to use a short leash as it allows for strict control.

Walking pets in nature

To travel on public transport, the dog owner must have two documents in accordance with the law on walking. This is a veterinary certificate and a certificate of vaccinations.

The only exception is an animal that lived on the street, which is taken to the shelter in the required form. There he will be guaranteed two meals a day for some time.

The table below shows the amount of fines in St. Petersburg, Moscow and the Moscow region in 2021.

By law, you cannot walk in the forest with your pet without a leash and muzzle. It is also prohibited to walk the dog in a park or square where people are potentially present, on the territory of a kindergarten, even if there are no children there, or near a school.

Is it possible to walk in the park?

Before deciding where to go for a walk with your beloved pet, you need to carefully consider the possible consequences of such an action. You must walk your dog without breaking the law.

The purpose of introducing a law on walking pets is to protect other people and animals from possible aggression, which has already had a lot of visual evidence. The law was also adopted so that the dog would be spared the consequences of its spontaneous outburst of emotions - injuries, euthanasia. That is why the rules for walking your pet must be followed.

People who are dissatisfied with violations of the law on walking are directly encouraged to record observed violations in photos or videos and contact supervisory authorities. This means that even disregard for the law in a deserted place can become apparent thanks to undetected observers and information technology.

A fun walk with a dog in the city

In different regions, fines can reach significant amounts. For example, in Magadan, for some types of offenses against owners with pets, monetary penalties reach 20 thousand rubles.