A reader wrote to us about a dog that had been left outside Biedronka on Chrobrego Street.

The owner tied the leash to a post and went shopping. The dog looked dangerous and was not wearing a muzzle. I was afraid to walk past it and had to go around. I took a photo as evidence of what it looked like. Maybe this dog had a gentle temperament, but you cannot leave an animal like that without supervision. If it became agitated, it could attack, and the fact that it was on a leash would only make matters worse (I read that animals which cannot move freely or escape become even more aggressive). Please raise this issue.

We asked the Municipal Police for its opinion on the matter. According to the officers, such a situation should not occur. A dog must be supervised at all times and must have a leash and/or a muzzle. In this case, those rules were broken. The head of the Municipal Police appeals to people to report such situations to the services immediately, because the problem of irresponsible dog owners is still ongoing.

We checked the date the photo was taken. It turned out to be November 15, the day on which regulations concerning supervision of animals were tightened.

In Poland, keeping and walking dogs is regulated by two legal acts: the Animal Protection Act and the Code of Petty Offences. The Act prohibits letting dogs loose without the possibility of controlling them and without a marking enabling identification of the owner or keeper (this ban does not apply to private property if the property is fenced and the dog cannot get over the fence). The Code of Petty Offences, in turn, provides that anyone who fails to take ordinary or prescribed precautions when keeping an animal is subject to restriction of liberty, a fine of up to PLN 1,000, or a reprimand. More restrictive criteria apply to so-called dangerous breeds. Anyone who fails to exercise care when keeping an animal whose behaviour poses a danger to human life or health is subject to restriction of liberty, a fine, or a reprimand. This means that the fine may amount to as much as PLN 5,000.

Neither the Act nor the Code states whether a dog must be on a leash or wear a muzzle. This is regulated by the regulations of each city. They may differ from one place to another, so this should be checked when travelling somewhere with a dog. Below, we provide the regulations in force in Bolesławiec.

  1. A person keeping domestic animals is obliged to ensure constant and effective supervision of those animals. In areas intended for common use, dogs are advised to be walked in a manner ensuring control over them (e.g. on a leash or wearing a muzzle).
  2. A person keeping an aggressive animal is obliged to equip the property with a clearly visible warning sign containing legible information that such an animal is kept on the property, and, when taking it outside, to use a leash and a muzzle.

The regulations in force in Bolesławiec are clear: if the incident had been reported, the owner of the dog outside Biedronka could have paid a substantial fine. The owner failed to ensure constant supervision of the animal.

Send us a message, give us a tip

If you witness an incident or something annoys you, send us a photo by MMS or call us. Our number is 730 690 700 (available around the clock). Add this number to your contacts and save it as istotne.pl. We guarantee anonymity.