The owner is responsible for the animal. According to the Animal Protection Act:

Anyone who keeps a domestic animal must provide it with shelter protecting it from cold, heat and precipitation, with access to daylight, allowing it to change its body position freely, as well as suitable food and constant access to water. The tether on which an animal is kept must not cause injury or suffering and must allow it the necessary freedom of movement.

If there is a suspicion that an owner is treating an animal improperly, this should be reported to the police, municipal guards or city or municipal officials.

Stray animals, especially dogs, are a significant problem—mainly during the winter. It should be remembered that in most cases all dogs have owners, while those considered “stray” are often animals that their owners have failed to properly supervise or secure. If the owner of a roaming dog is known, this should be reported to municipal guards or police officers, who have the right to issue a fine to the irresponsible animal owner.

One indication that an animal may not have an owner is, among other things, that it appears at the same time in a particular area. Such cases are especially common during animals’ mating season or when food is constantly available. Entire packs of dogs can then “guard” a given area. Sometimes this situation lasts a week or even longer.

When a dog is aggressive and attacks residents

The City/Municipality has a statutory obligation to intervene through the entity with which it has a contract, capture the animal and take it to a shelter. Cases involving genuinely stray, non-aggressive dogs should be reported by telephone or in person to city or municipal offices, or by telephone to the municipal or city guard or the police. When making a report, provide the animal’s current location, the number of animals and their size. This will undoubtedly improve the quality and effectiveness of the intervention.

Cases involving aggressive dogs attacking passers-by—if there is a risk of being bitten—must be reported to the police immediately. When intervening, the police will also notify a veterinarian or an entity acting on behalf of the municipality; the latter will capture the animal using special equipment and take it to a shelter.

How should you behave when threatened by an aggressive animal? What should you do then? Here are a few tips:

  • stand still, do not run
  • do not look the dog in the eyes
  • do not show fear
  • do not turn around, especially if it is large, because if it jumps at you, it may knock you over
  • stand side-on to the dog, with your legs slightly apart. This will help you maintain your balance
  • then try to assume the turtle position. You will protect the parts of your body that dogs usually bite.

At the same time, to protect people from danger, we remind you that keeping domestic animals must not be harmful to other people. It is important for animal owners to remember their responsibilities, in particular:

  • walking dogs outside their property on a leash
  • not bringing dogs or other animals into public-use facilities, unless such a ban does not apply at the facility
  • constant supervision of dogs and other domestic animals
  • not bringing dogs onto playgrounds.

KWP Wrocław/ii