'Chain bill' signed into law by Polish president
Polish President Karol Nawrocki on Friday signed into law an amendment to the Animal Protection Act banning the tethering of dogs and cats.
The amended law will take effect one year after its publication in the Journal of Laws.
Announcing his decision in a video posted on the President's Office account on X, Nawrocki said he had vetoed the original version of the so-called chain bill because it was poorly drafted, overly restrictive and imposed obligations that many people would have been unable to meet.
The president vetoed the first version of the bill in December 2025.
"I clearly stated at the time that the goal of protecting animals was the right one, but the law had to be capable of being implemented," Nawrocki said.
"The state cannot turn concern for animal welfare into yet another financial burden on citizens. Today, we are receiving a better bill, one that has the support of bodies such as the agricultural self-government," he noted.
The new law sets minimum size requirements and construction standards for outdoor dog pens. Under the new rules, enclosures must provide sufficient space for free movement and meet dogs' natural needs. Pens must have a stable structure and at least two open, ventilated sides to ensure access to daylight and fresh air.
Owners who keep dogs in outdoor pens will also be required to provide them with daily exercise outside the enclosure, appropriate to the animal's age and health. In addition, dogs kept outdoors or in pens must have access to insulated wooden doghouses to protect them from adverse weather conditions.
The law provides for limited exceptions to the tethering ban, including during transport, animal shows and veterinary procedures. Short-term, incidental tethering away from an animal's usual place of residence will also be permitted, provided it does not compromise the animal's welfare. (PAP)
at/jch
