The amendment to the animal protection law was backed by 280 lawmakers, with 105 voting against and 30 abstaining.
It was drafted by the ruling Civic Coalition (KO) and will come into force 12 months after publication if signed into law.
Current rules allow animals to be kept tethered for up to 12 hours a day, provided the leash is at least three metres long and does not cause suffering.
Lawmakers said the restrictions were widely flouted and difficult to enforce.
The new rules prohibit keeping dogs tied up on a permanent basis, allowing exceptions only in specific cases such as walks, training, transport, veterinary treatment or when preventing danger to people, animals or property.
Short-term tethering, for instance outside shops, will also remain possible, provided it does not harm the animal’s welfare.
The bill also sets minimum kennel sizes depending on the dog’s weight: at least 10 square metres for animals under 20 kg, 15 sq m for those between 20 and 30 kg, and 20 sq m for larger dogs.
Kennels must be partially roofed and have hardened flooring.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk welcomed the move, posting on social media: “The chain law ends. At last!”
Animal rights organisations, while hailing the ban on chaining, voiced concern over kennel provisions.
“We cannot replace chains with small prison-like cages,” the OTOZ Animals association said, urging the upper house, the Senate, to expand minimum kennel sizes and require openwork fencing.
Anna Zielińska, vice president of the Viva! foundation, called the ban “a long-awaited change,” but said further steps were needed, including compulsory sterilisation, mandatory microchipping of cats and dogs, and stricter oversight of shelters and breeders.
(tf/gs)
Source: PAP