The authorities in the capital are preparing to update regulations for pet owners. This concerns, in particular, permission for pets to be present in stores and cafes, a ban on leaving them in closed cars, and the registration of cats in the municipal registry. In January, the decision could not be adopted due to a lack of votes from deputies; however, a repeat vote is likely to take place in the near future.
This was reported by the “KyivVlada” publication.
Updating the regulations
The current rules governing the treatment of animals in Kyiv were adopted back in 2007. The Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) believes that they are outdated, as they do not meet the real requirements for veterinary medicine, animal protection, and public amenities.
However, the first attempt to vote on draft decision No. 08/231-46/PR failed. The publication links this to disagreements among deputies over certain provisions of the updated rules, particularly regarding special testing for both dog owners and the animals themselves.
Key changes
The draft includes 14 sections that regulate various aspects of pet handling, from registration and walking requirements to the disposal of animal remains.
Among the updates, “KyivVlada” highlights the following:
- mandatory registration of cats in a special municipal registry. Currently, this registration is optional;
- an in-person interview with owners prior to animal registration, with questions about feeding, housing, care, and sanitary standards. It is likely that this responsibility will be assigned to the municipal institution “Kyiv City Veterinary Medicine Hospital”;
- mandatory testing of dogs’ social behavior under the "Companion Dog" program. The updated rules apply to all dog breeds without exception, whereas the current rules only apply to potentially dangerous breeds;
- the introduction of the Pet-Friendly concept for public establishments. The current rules only allow guide dogs to enter stores or food establishments. In contrast, the updated draft will let businesses decide independently. However, each establishment must inform visitors whether pets are allowed or not. This concept also applies to being with pets in shelters, but in this case, safety for others must be ensured;
- a ban on animal ownership for individuals who have previously committed acts of cruelty against animals. Following an administrative penalty, the ban lasts 1 year; after criminal liability has been established, it lasts 10 years;
- a ban on leaving animals in closed vehicles when the air temperature is above +20°C or below +5°C;
- a ban on leaving animals tied up unsupervised near stores or public transport stops;
- a ban on begging with animals;
- a ban on accompanying animals while intoxicated, by persons under 14 years of age without supervision, or by legally incapacitated individuals. For handling potentially dangerous dog breeds, the minimum age requirement is proposed to be raised from 16 to 18 years.
Remarks from deputies
Certain provisions of the draft decision provoked strong disagreement among deputies. For example, they noted the following:
- not all pets are able to follow commands;
- shifting the responsibility of paying for testing onto the owners is unfair;
- the rules do not specify how owners should document the death of their pet to notify the authorities. If an autopsy is required, it will become an additional financial burden.
“Will the dog allow its teeth to be examined? We're not at a dog show! And not all dogs can perform the 'heel' command-what's wrong with that? Does this mean that owners are mistreating their animals? It also says there that the dog 'should have joy in its eyes.' Excuse me, I have a Labrador: she always looks sad, and when she's happy, she wags her tail. So does that mean I won’t pass this test?” stated MP Viktoriia Ptashnyk.
In Ukraine, work is ongoing on draft law No. 11328, aimed at strengthening responsibility for cruelty to animals and improving their protection mechanisms. EcoPolitic has provided a detailed overview of its provisions.
Recently, a number of public organizations appealed to the authorities demanding a ban on hunting.
