Latvia plans training and adult walks for dogs that attack

The Latvian government has approved a draft regulation requiring a uniform system for keeping, registering and training dogs that have attacked a person or another animal, LSM reported. The measures are intended to reduce risks to public safety.

The draft, submitted by the Ministry of Agriculture, follows an incident in Carnikava in which two unattended dogs attacked a group of kindergarten children.

Under the proposed rules, dogs involved in attacks would have to undergo mandatory training, while walks would be permitted only with an adult. The rules would also set out the duties of the dog’s owner or keeper and other practical arrangements following an incident.

The ministry said the draft regulations concern what happens after an attack and would not replace the consequences already established under Latvia’s Animal Protection Law. They are also not intended to regulate how people should respond at the moment an attack occurs.

The law, which was strengthened on July 1, introduced stricter requirements and consequences when a dog harms a person. If a person suffers serious injuries or dies and the dog’s owner or keeper is prosecuted, the law also provides for the dog’s euthanasia.

The ministry said the attack on the children in Carnikava was the full responsibility of the animals’ owner.