Lithuania’s food and veterinary service proposes ban on tethering dogs, limits on leaving pets alone

The State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) has proposed banning the permanent tethering of dogs and setting legal limits on how long pets can be left unattended, LRT reports.

Kristina Ulienė, head of the VMVT’s Animal Welfare Division, said the agency recommends prohibiting the continuous tethering of dogs, allowing it only in specific cases, such as during maintenance of enclosures or to prevent escape.

Current regulations already prohibit commercial breeders from keeping dogs permanently tethered, but the same restriction does not apply to private owners. Ulienė noted that European Parliament guidelines on dog and cat welfare highlight that long-term tethering causes significant welfare issues, restricts natural behaviour, and can lead to physical and psychological disorders.

“Since pets are social animals, we want to move towards a Western approach where this ban would apply universally,” Ulienė said.

The VMVT has asked the Ministry of Environment to amend the Law on Animal Welfare and Protection to explicitly prohibit keeping dogs permanently tethered. The agency also proposes establishing a maximum time limit for leaving pets unattended.

Ulienė cited cases where inspectors found dogs living alone near homesteads, with owners visiting only every few days. Even when food, water, and shelter are provided, leaving pets unattended for several days raises welfare concerns, she said.

“A pet is almost like a family member, so we propose legalising this (time limit),” Ulienė added.

VMVT specialists, together with scientists from the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, have developed guidelines for assessing cruel treatment of animals, recommending that pets should not be left unattended for more than a day.

This is not the first attempt to ban permanent tethering in Lithuania. In April 2024, the Seimas rejected a similar proposal that would have allowed tethering for no more than two hours, such as during walks, equipment cleaning, or other specific situations. Several European countries already prohibit or strictly limit tethering.