Poland: Ban on teethering of dogs and cats

According to the Polish News Agency, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has signed into law an amendment to the Animal Protection Act prohibiting the tethering of dogs and cats last Friday, 24 July 2026. The legislation also introduces minimum size and construction standards for outdoor dog pens, requiring that enclosures provide sufficient space for free movement and include at least two open, ventilated sides to ensure access to daylight and fresh air. In addition, dogs kept in outdoor pens must be given daily exercise outside the enclosure appropriate to their age and health. Owners will also be required to provide insulated wooden doghouses to protect animals from adverse weather conditions. The law includes limited exceptions to the tethering ban, such as during transport, veterinary procedures and animal shows, as well as short-term tethering that does not compromise the animal’s welfare.