Poland considers law to seize dangerous dogs

A new legislative proposal submitted to the Sejm aims to amend animal protection laws to enhance public safety by facilitating the seizure of dangerous dogs. Under the proposed rules, a prosecutor could decide to remove a dog from its owner if an attack results in bodily harm, injury, or death to a human or another animal. This decision would be made following consultations with a behavioral expert or a district veterinarian.

Once seized, these animals would be sent to shelters or specialized facilities with a ban on re-adoption. While proponents argue this is necessary to protect citizens, the Association of Polish Counties (Związek Powiatów Polskich) has raised concerns regarding the financial impact. They estimate an annual cost of approximately 1.2 million PLN for local governments, noting that the ban on re-adoption could lead to animals remaining in shelters for their entire lives. The Association suggests a mechanism for former owners to partially and permanently co-finance the maintenance of the seized animals.