Protest outside the Ministry of Agriculture: "No to cages for dogs"

On Sunday, October 4, 2026, on World Animal Day, a demonstration titled "No to Cages" took place in front of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development at Wspólna Street in Warsaw.

According to RMF FM, over a hundred people attended, some with their dogs. The protest was about a draft regulation concerning the minimum conditions for keeping a dog in a kennel.

The draft ties the size of the kennel to the height of the dog at the withers: 4 m² for dogs under 40 cm, 5 m² for dogs 40–59 cm, 8 m² for dogs 60–70 cm, and 10 m² for dogs over 70 cm. Each additional dog in the same kennel would require 50% more space.

The regulations are set to come into effect along with a ban on keeping dogs on a leash on July 28, 2027. The law allows for a kennel if the dog cannot move freely in a fenced area outside the apartment or poses a threat.

Deputy Minister Jacek Czerniak told PAP that the ministry wanted to align Polish standards with the EU regulation on the welfare of dogs and cats. He noted that consultations are ongoing until October 7 and "everything may change."

Foundations consider the draft a step backward. The president of Viva!, Anna Zielińska, pointed out that the current chain length of at least 3 meters provides a dog with about 28 m², while the new kennels would be smaller. Organizations are advocating for the space outlined in the civic project "Stop the Chains": at least 15, 20, and 24 m². Ewa Gebert from OTOZ Animals called the proposal "a change from one form of oppression to another."