The lower house voted 280-105 in favour of the new rules, with 30 MPs abstaining.
The bill, introduced by lawmakers from the ruling Civic Coalition, prohibits tethering dogs, replacing current rules that allow it under limited conditions.
At present, owners may keep a dog tied up for no more than 12 hours a day and only with a tether at least three metres long, provided the practice does not cause injury or suffering.
Lawmakers argued those regulations were difficult to enforce and often ignored.
The ban includes exceptions, such as walking dogs on a leash or temporarily tethering them during transport, veterinary treatment or training.
Dogs may also be restrained briefly if necessary to prevent danger to people or animals, or in cases where no alternative is possible.
The law also defines new standards for outdoor enclosures. Owners will be required to provide kennels with partially roofed and hardened surfaces, with minimum sizes based on the dog’s weight: 10 square metres for animals under 20 kg, 15 sq m for those between 20 and 30 kg, and 20 sq m for dogs heavier than 30 kg. The size must increase proportionally for multiple dogs.
The legislation will take effect 12 months after it is published.
During debate, Civic Coalition lawmaker Maria Piekarska said that 74 percent of Poles supported a ban on tethering dogs. She added that public education was needed to ensure the law improves animal welfare in practice.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, polskieradio24.pl