Estonia bans permanent dog chaining and zoophilia

Estonia’s parliament has passed amendments banning the permanent keeping of dogs on chains and explicitly prohibiting zoophilia and the production and distribution of material depicting it, ERR reported.

The changes to the Animal Protection Act and Veterinary Act also introduce licensing for animal shelters, strengthen oversight and clarify requirements for animal care. The permanent-chaining ban will apply to dogs born from 2027. Owners of dogs born earlier will have a transition period, and temporary chaining will remain allowed in specified circumstances, including medical need, safety concerns or a dog’s aggression.

Animal shelters will need an activity licence, while people providing individual foster homes will not need one if they care for an animal in need under an agreement with a shelter. The amendments also require shelters to provide new owners with specified information about an animal.

The law strengthens veterinarians’ role in assessing whether euthanasia is justified. An animal may be put down only if survival would cause lasting suffering or it could no longer live in a way appropriate to its species. The same principle applies to stray animals left helpless by an accident or emergency.

The Agriculture and Food Board will gain additional powers to protect animals kept in conditions that do not meet requirements. If an order is not followed, the board may transfer a farm animal to the person who has been caring for it as a substitute, or find another suitable keeper. Penalties for violations of animal-protection rules will also be updated.

The bill was passed with 55 votes in favour, 11 against and one abstention. Agriculture Committee chair Urmas Kruuse said the changes aim to ensure animal welfare is supported by clear, modern requirements rather than depending solely on people’s goodwill.