July 17, 2023

Paws & Laws


Paws & Laws
Stray kittens. Noppon Meenuch, Unsplash.

The State Duma imposed a ban on stray dogs and cats — granting regions the autonomy to determine how they will deal with such “homeless” animals.

An amendment to Article 13 of Federal Law No. 498, also known as "On the Responsible Treatment of Animals," included a ban on stray animals and their "self-walking" activities. The amended law now strictly prohibits the unrestricted and unaccompanied movement of animals in various public spaces, with the exception of designated areas permitted by local authorities for animal exercise. Notably, under the current version of the Responsible Animal Care Act, pets are prohibited from accessing roadways, elevators, apartment building yards, as well as children's and sports fields.

The State Duma claims their primary objective is to "protect people from attacks" from stray dogs. However, their motivation has sparked opposition from animal rights activists, who took to the streets near the State Duma to express their concerns. The activists said they fear the Duma's decision may pave the way for the legalization of euthanasia for homeless animals across different regions. 

Following the public outcry, the State Duma received approximately 25,000 appeals from concerned citizens expressing their opposition to the proposed amendments. In response, Russia has implemented an OSVV program (trapping, sterilization, vaccination, and return to the streets) as a means of addressing the issue. However, the legal amendments will give regional authorities the option to explore alternative approaches, which could potentially include the implementation of so-called "humane euthanasia."

You Might Also Like

Never Abandon Your Own
  • October 15, 2022

Never Abandon Your Own

When circumstances force you to leave the country, what do you do with your beloved pets?
A Shell-ebration
  • March 21, 2023

A Shell-ebration

A rare species of tortoise hatches in the Moscow Zoo for the first time. 
Puppy Love
  • August 29, 2022

Puppy Love

On International Homeless Animals Day, Moscow citizens attended a festival to encourage the adoption of pets from city shelters.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Fish
February 01, 2010

Fish

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Murder at the Dacha
July 01, 2013

Murder at the Dacha

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin has a problem. Several, actually. Not the least of them is the fact that a powerful Soviet boss has been murdered, and Matyushkin's surly commander has given him an unreasonably short time frame to close the case.

The Samovar Murders
November 01, 2019

The Samovar Murders

The murder of a poet is always more than a murder. When a famous writer is brutally stabbed on the campus of Moscow’s Lumumba University, the son of a recently deposed African president confesses, and the case assumes political implications that no one wants any part of.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955