On Sunday, December 14, Warsaw hosted the “Great March for Animals,” ending outside the Presidential Palace as participants demanded that animals be freed from chains.
Participants and Slogans
The march, named “Great March for Animals,” moved through the streets of Wierzbów, Nowy Świat, and Krakowskie Przedmieście before reaching the Presidential Palace. Participants shouted slogans such as “Break the chains, reject the veto,” “A creature is not an object,” and “Chairman, calm, end this suffering.”
Katarzyna Piekarska’s Long‑Standing Campaign
Katarzyna Piekarska, a KOK MP known for her animal‑rights activism, joined the protest. She highlighted her efforts during the previous parliamentary term working on the “five provisions for animals.” Piekarska expressed hope that the current veto would be rejected, noting that for the past 30 years she has fought to free dogs from chains. She recalled drafting the first animal‑protection law 30 years ago, at which time voices already called for dogs to be unchained, but she said it was too early then.
Dr. Robert Maślak on Chronic Dog Stress
Dr. Robert Maślak from the Faculty of Biological Sciences at Wrocław University warned that many animals suffering in Poland remain legally allowed to be chained. He said a dog on a chain or locked in a tight enclosure still suffers and tends to bite more aggressively. According to behavioral studies, chronic stress, frustration, and isolation lead to behavioral disorders, so replacing a chain with a tight pen only changes the form of isolation. A dog confined in an undersized space continues to suffer and poses a greater danger. These points were among the cage‑size provisions that President Karol Nawrocki challenged.
President Nawrocki’s Chain Law Veto
President Karol Nawrocki intends to veto the so‑called “chain law.” He argued that although the intention to protect animals is noble, the law was poorly drafted and would create new problems, potentially worsening animal welfare. He criticized the proposed dog‑cage norms as unrealistic, describing cramped city‑car–sized pens as absurd and harmful to farmers, breeders, and rural households. Nawrocki plans to submit his own draft on dog confinement aimed at letting dogs out of chains.
Parliament Sets Vote for December 17
The Sejm will vote on Wednesday, December 17, on whether to reject the presidential veto of the chain law. The president justified the veto by saying the law’s purpose was good but its drafting was flawed. The amendment to the animal‑protection law passed in late September had 280 MPs in favor, 105 against, and 30 abstaining. The ruling PiS party voted in favor with 49 MPs, including Jarosław Kaczyński.
