Pula authorities clarify regulations for dog owners in public spaces

Following reports of a dog attack in the Veruda neighborhood of Pula, local police and municipal officials have clarified the legal requirements for pet owners using public spaces.

According to the Istria Police Department, all dogs must be kept on a leash when in public. Specific categories of dogs, classified as dangerous, must be both leashed and muzzled, and may only be handled by their owners. The dangerous dog category includes any animal with a recorded attack on a human or another dog, dogs trained for fighting, and bull-type terriers that do not come from controlled breeding.

While most dogs must remain leashed, the City of Pula has designated specific areas where dogs may move freely, such as the park near the Drenovica forest, Marso polje, and certain fenced areas in Valdebek. However, officials noted that even in forest areas, these permissions apply only to meadows and not to forest paths.