Is it true that under the new rules, leaving a dog tied up will result in a €1750 fine? 0 109

Tied your dog up near a store — be prepared for a €1750 fine: this is the information currently being spread by some news portals discussing the new European Regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats.

But we looked into the Regulation EU 2026/1818, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on June 17 of this year, and found an important detail.

The document indeed states clearly: keeping a dog or cat tied up for more than one hour is prohibited. Exceptions are made, in particular, for treatment, as well as for animals participating in exhibitions and competitions. For service dogs of the army, police, and customs, EU countries may establish additional exceptions.

However, this rule does not apply to all dog owners.

The Regulation specifically distinguishes between ordinary pet owners and so-called operators. And the prohibition on prolonged tying is found in Chapter II, which applies exclusively to operators — breeders, kennels, places of sale for animals, shelters, and boarding facilities.

In other words, the EU primarily wants to put an end to the practice where a dog essentially lives on a chain or other tether in places where animals are bred, sold, or kept. The Regulation explains the reason: prolonged tethering is associated with musculoskeletal disorders, the inability to lie down, rest, and behave in a way that is natural for the animal.

Therefore, the familiar situation — the owner comes to the store with a dog, leaves it for a few minutes at the entrance, and goes to buy bread — does not fall under the European time restriction.

This is also confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture of Latvia.

However, in our country, there are also specific regulations regarding tying dogs in public places. It states that the leash must not be longer than one meter, the dog must not obstruct people or vehicles, threaten people or other animals, and the conditions must not pose a danger to the health and life of the dog itself. This is stipulated in paragraph 39 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulations No. 411.

Violating these conditions constitutes a breach of animal welfare requirements. In Latvia, this is punishable under Article 57 of the Animal Protection Law with a wide range of fines: an individual can be fined up to 350 penalty units for animal welfare violations, while a legal entity can be fined from 22 to 500 units. One penalty unit equals €5, meaning the maximum for an individual owner is €1750.

But this, we repeat, is an already existing administrative responsibility in Latvia, not a new European "fine for a tied dog." And from this responsibility, it does not follow that you will be forced to pay such a large sum for incorrectly tying your dog.

Returning to the new European rule — it is not yet in effect.

The Regulation came into force on August 30 of this year, but the main part of its requirements will only take effect on August 31, 2028. For certain provisions, even longer transitional periods are provided.

The document is much broader than just the leash issue. The EU is introducing minimum standards for the care and tracking of dogs and cats that are common to all countries for the first time. In particular, requirements for their breeding, registration, and microchipping, as well as conditions for keeping them in kennels and shelters, are being introduced. Some painful practices are prohibited, including the use of spiked collars and choke collars without a limiter.

In summary: dog owners in Latvia can breathe easy: the EU does not intend to time how long your dog has been sitting at the entrance to Maxima with a stopwatch. Nevertheless, the owner's responsibility for what happens to the dog during that time and what it may do to those around it has not been canceled.