On Sunday December 14, Warsaw’s animal‑rights groups will march from the Parliament to the Presidential Palace to protest the president’s veto of the “chain law” that restricts keeping dogs on chains.
Event Overview
Organizers announced the “Great Animal March” under the slogan “Break the Chains, Reject the Veto,” to take place in Warsaw on December 14. The march will begin at 1 p.m. in front of the Sejm and proceed toward the Presidential Palace.
Route and Schedule
Participants will gather at 1 p.m. near the Parliament and then march to the Presidential Palace. Services may introduce temporary traffic adjustments along the route, decisions to be made on the spot during the gatherings.
Supporters and Objectives
Dozens of animal‑rights foundations and associations back the action, aiming to show public support for legal changes that would limit prolonged chaining of dogs.
Background: The “Chain Law” Amendment
The president’s veto concerns a draft amendment called the “chain law,” which proposed banning permanent chaining but allowing narrow exceptions for short‑term situations. The debate also addressed standards for keeping dogs outside the home, including crate requirements tied to dog size.
Existing Protection Regulations
Current law forbids keeping pets on a chain “permanently” for more than 12 hours a day, and chains must be at least 3 m long. Critics say these rules are difficult to enforce in practice.
President’s Veto Rationale
The president approved the core idea of prohibiting permanent chaining but vetoed the bill over the wording of “crates” and potential practical consequences. He argued that crate regulations were imprecise, overly strict, and tied to dog weight in a disproportional way, raising enforcement issues. He cautioned that simply replacing a chain with a crate does not guarantee welfare and could lead to more relinquishment and shelter burdens, especially given differing treatment of shelters under new standards.
Deciding Vote and Next Demonstration
The Sejm will vote on December 17 to determine whether the veto is overturned. That same day, organizers plan another protest in front of Parliament to emphasize the issue on the decision‑making day.