Using a muzzle and leash when walking your dog is a sign of a responsible owner. This is the only way to ensure the safety of others and your pet.
Which dogs are prohibited from being walked without a muzzle?
In the Russian Federation, there is a special Federal Law "On Responsible Treatment of Animals," the provisions of which should be taken into account when organizing walks and recreation for your dog.
The government has approved a list of dog breeds that are considered particularly dangerous and are legally prohibited from roaming outside their owners' property without a muzzle and leash:
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog;
- American Staffordshire Terrier;
- Karelian Bear Dog;
- Alabai;
- Anatolian Karabash;
- American Pit Bull.
Similar rules also apply to crossbreeds of the aforementioned dog breeds.
Any dog weighing more than 5 kilograms must be walked on a leash and with a muzzle, as such an animal could cause harm to passersby and other animals.
Common sense dictates that even a small dog, even one not on the list of dangerous breeds, should be walked safely. Even if a pet is calm and doesn't bite, no one can guarantee that an aggressive person, an untrained child, or another poorly trained dog won't provoke the animal into a conflict that could result in injury.
A permit for walking dogs without a muzzle exists – it applies to those walking puppies under three months old and dogs no taller than 25 centimeters at the withers. Leashes, however, remain mandatory.
Fine amounts in different regions
As of 2019, there is a system of fines for violating safety regulations when walking dogs. The fines for carelessness vary little by region, but will vary depending on the violation.
This list is relevant for dog owners in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, and other major cities. Fines vary slightly across regions, but the exact amount can be found on the official "Code of Administrative Offenses" portal for your city.
- Appearing without a muzzle and leash in public places such as a beach, public garden, park, or playground will result in a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 rubles.
- The same amount must be paid if the animal is walked on the grounds of an educational institution – a school, kindergarten, college, etc.
- Walking an animal without a muzzle in the adjacent territory or yard will result in a fine of 500 to 1,000 rubles.
- Transporting an animal on public transport without a muzzle, leash, or using a special carrier for a smaller animal is punishable by a fine of 500 to 1,000 rubles.
- If a dog owner is found intoxicated while walking their pet, they may be fined up to 5,000 rubles.
- If walking a dog without a muzzle results in an attack on another animal, the fine will reach 4,000-5,000 rubles.
- If the attack is on a person, the fine will be the same. If the health consequences are minor, and the victim only suffers a fright, the fine will be 2,000-3,000 rubles. If the dog causes serious injuries, the fine will not be limited to just fines; there will be legal proceedings, possibly resulting in imprisonment.
The fines listed are only applicable if the offense is recorded for the first time. If the owner repeatedly violates walking rules and fails to comply with safety regulations, the fines will be increased.
Where is it allowed to let a dog off a leash?
There are specially fenced areas where dogs can be walked—sometimes equipped with training equipment and special exercise machines to keep them active. In these areas, you can safely let your pets off leash.
Here are the requirements for such sites:
- the total area of the territory is not less than 400 square meters;
- the nearest apartment buildings and public buildings are at least 25 meters away;
- educational institutions, hospitals and playgrounds must be more than 40 meters away;
- The "dog" area must have a special plant or sand covering, which must be renewed at least once a year.
If there is no such area for walking, you can contact the housing and communal services department with a proposal to consider the issue of creating one.
For calm dogs that are not on the list of especially dangerous breeds, there is the possibility of walking them without a leash and muzzle in vacant lots, deserted outskirts, and other places where people usually do not go, and where there are no residential or outbuildings.
You can also let your dog off-leash outside city limits—when you go into the woods, you can rest assured that you're not breaking the dog-walking law, regardless of your pet's breed or size.
If the dog owner is the owner of a plot of land, then he has the right to walk the dog without protective equipment in a private fenced area.
Vlad
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