The Polotsk Prosecutor's Office explains the rules for keeping pets

The Rules for keeping pets (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), including walking dogs, are enshrined in the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of June 4, 2001 No834.

Dogs should be walked in places specially designated for this purpose by local executive and administrative bodies, and always on a short leash and in a muzzle. The exceptions are puppies under the age of three months and decorative breeds up to 25 cm tall at the withers - they can be led on a leash without a muzzle.

Registration of dogs of potentially dangerous breeds is carried out only if the owner has a certificate of completion of the appropriate training. Upon registration, the owners are issued a registration certificate and a token of the established form, which must be permanently attached to the collar of the animal. Local executive and administrative bodies that carry out the registration of dogs are obliged to familiarize their owners with the Rules, as well as with sanitary and veterinary rules against the signature of their owners.

In case of violation of the Rules for keeping pets (walking in the wrong place, without a leash, muzzle, etc.), the owner may be brought to administrative responsibility in the form of a fine in the amount of 1 to 15 base units (Part 1 of Article 16.30 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus). If a dog has caused harm to people's health or property, this may result in a fine of 10 to 30 base units, community service or administrative arrest (Part 2 of Article 16.30 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Republic of Belarus).

On the fact of causing harm to health, citizens have the right to apply to law enforcement agencies at the place where the offense was committed. Also, if the guilt of the owner of the dog is confirmed (there is a decision of the court or the body conducting the administrative process to bring the citizen to justice or release him from administrative liability with the issuance of a warning), the victims, in the presence of other evidence (medical documents, receipts for the purchase of medicines, etc.), have the right to file a claim with the court within the framework of civil proceedings for the recovery of damage and monetary compensation for moral damage.