On May 23, the State Duma will consider, in the second reading, a bill that introduces administrative fines for non-compliance with the requirements for feeding animals, as well as for dogs biting a person. vedomosti.
A total of three new compositions are planned to be added to the Administrative Offenses Act (CAO) regarding non-compliance with the treatment requirements for animals. The changes were supported by the State Construction Duma Committee.
bite penalty
According to the document, the fine for owners for animal bites will be from 10,000 to 200,000 rubles.
Pursuant to article 8.52, the owner is punished if his pet bites a person or causes minor harm to him. Thus, fines for citizens will range from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles, for officials – from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles, and for legal entities – from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles. At the same time, if the animal was in the custody of another person or was stolen at the time of the incident, the owner will not be fined.
Vladimir Burmatov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Ecology Committee, as one of the authors of the initiative, said that within the framework of this norm, officials responsible for the construction of shelters for stray animals in cities, but not doing so. the doer will be punished.
He also noticed that 40% of bites were done by owner animals.
Now, the responsibility of owners whose pet attacks a person is determined by the regional authorities.
“In different cases, articles of the Criminal Code may also apply – for example, causing grievous bodily harm through negligence (Article 118 of the Criminal Code),” said the Nika Foundation for Homeless Animals.
Activists believe that the introduction of a self-walking ban, mandatory registration by each pet owner, breeding license and preferential sterilization are necessary to improve the situation with homeless animals.
“We need mechanisms to educate city dwellers and work with children in schools with clear instructions: do not leave playgrounds and gardens, do not approach stray dogs on the street, and do not touch animals,” the foundation said.
Bad content and abuse
It will also threaten those who do not comply with the animal feeding requirements with punishment. This refers to a situation where owners throw their pets on the street instead of trying to give them to a shelter or find new owners for them.
“According to the law on responsible treatment of animals, a person may not get rid of animals in any way except by transferring them to another owner or giving them to a shelter,” said Burmatov.
For violations for citizens, a fine is imposed from 1,500 to 3,000 rubles, for officials, from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles, for legal entities – from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles.
If this action does not contain any sign of a crime, punishment is also given for cruelty to animals. The Penal Code already has Article 245 on cruelty to animals, but killing an animal or seriously harming its health is punishable.
“But if a person has kicked an animal, left it in the cold or starved it, that is also cruel treatment,” said Burmatov.
He noted that people who commit such acts are now avoiding responsibility. In such cases, the new rules provide for a fine of 5,000 to 15,000 rubles for citizens, from 15,000 to 30,000 rubles for officials, and from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles for legal entities.
Responsibility of circuses, zoos and shelters
Also, Article 8.53 of the Administrative Offenses Law titled non-compliance with the requirements regarding the use of animals for cultural and recreational purposes. It is suggested that the article be added. Accordingly, the fine for individuals will be from 3,000 to 15,000 rubles, for officials – from 10,000 to 30,000 rubles, for organizations – from 50,000 to 100,000 rubles.
If zoos and circuses use animals that are unlicensed or in violation of the license, the authorized person will be fined from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles, and legal entities – from 100,000 to 200,000 rubles.
In addition, Article 8.54 can be added to the Law – non-compliance with the requirements for the implementation of activities for the treatment of animals by the owners of the shelter (fineties for citizens – from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles, for officials – from 5,000 to 15,000 rubles, for legal entities – from 30,000 to 50,000 rubles) .
Pavel Krasheninnikov, co-author of the bill and chairman of the State Construction Committee, is confident that the adoption of the bill will contribute to more responsible and humane treatment of animals.
The Long Way to Invoice
The document was submitted for consideration on 16 July 2021. Lawmakers adopted it in the first reading on October 27, 2021, but later its motion stalled. The authors of the initiative report that approvals for the project were completed only a few weeks ago.
Debate resumed after lawmakers passed a bill at first reading that would allow districts to determine for themselves how to deal with stray animals. The initiative allows the subjects’ authorities to, among other things, allow them to be killed. By May 30, this bill can be amended for a second reading. Especially, a provision will be added to the document that it will be possible to penalize self-walking in regional legislation.
“We will proceed from the relevance of the topic to different topics – for example, in Kalmykia many dogs are alone, and in big cities there are almost none,” MP Burmatov said.