Odesa City Council Plans New Dog Walking Rules to Ensure Safety

The Odesa City Council is planning to adopt new rules that will allow controlling the walking of large dogs in the city. The draft decision is being developed in response to numerous complaints from Odesa residents about the dangerous behavior of dogs without muzzles and leashes. The document is expected to be submitted to the city council in 2025.

This was discussed at a session of the Odesa City Council.

According to deputy Oleh Zvyagin, the problem of walking dogs without control has been discussed in Odesa since 2020, but there are still no effective mechanisms to influence violators. The deputies insisted on the adoption of clear rules that would allow municipal services to fine dog owners for non-compliance with the rules of safe dog walking.

"Unfortunately, owners of large breeds of dogs, including fighting dogs, continue to walk without a muzzle and without a leash. There are cases when large dogs attack people, children, tear their clothes, and injure them. We want to make sure that our services can fine and control dog owners," said the city council member.

The city's Department of Ecology confirmed that work is currently underway to update the rules for keeping pets in Odesa. According to representatives of the institution, the relevant draft decision has already been prepared and is being worked on together with the legal department.

However, the final approval of the document has been postponed due to changes in the current legislation. The department explained that they are waiting for the necessary regulations to be adopted at the national level to bring local rules in line with them.

Despite the delay, work on the document continues, and the city council expects to submit it for approval this year.

Also, the Odesa Zoo may start checking the conditions of animals and the quality of their food. Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov was instructed to prepare the necessary order and invited specialists to join.

In addition, at the session, the deputies of the Odesa City Council supported a draft decision on changes in the financing of school meals.

They also allocated UAH 60 million from the budget for priority measures to connect new cogeneration units.

Ірина Глухова