President Karol Nawrocki vetoed a bill banning tethered dogs and setting minimum kennel sizes, prompting the Sejm to prepare to challenge the veto after the law enjoyed broad support.
The Vetoed Amendment
The amendment would have prohibited keeping dogs restrained in cages and set minimum dimensions for potential pens: 10 m² for dogs weighing under 20 kg, 15 m² for dogs 20–30 kg, and 20 m² for those over 30 kg. The change was vetoed by President Nawrocki on Tuesday.
President’s Rationale
The president described the proposed kennel specifications as “absurd” and said they would hurt farmers, breeders, and ordinary rural enterprises. He also noted the sizes were comparable to “the size of a city apartment.” Nawrocki announced he would instead launch his own “chain law” project.
Surprise from Parliamentary Leader
Vice Marshal Dorota Niedziela, chair of the extraordinary animal‑protection committee, expressed her shock at the veto. She said she had called the president for a meeting as a veterinary surgeon but he was unavailable, and she noted, “Animals do not live in apartments, so I do not see that argument.” She recalled having removed chains from dogs’ necks in her own practice.
Parliamentary Response and Strategy
The Sejm will discuss within the governing coalition how to proceed against the veto. The bill received the backing of 49 PiS MPs, including party leader Jarosław Kaczyński. “We will talk about it; we will decide whether to try to reject the veto,” said a member of the Civic Coalition.
Potential Override
With 280 MPs favouring the amendment—a number that exceeds the requirement by four votes—there is a theoretical possibility to override the president’s veto. Overriding requires a three‑fifths majority of the full 276‑member chamber.
Signing of Alternative Amendment
While vetoing the tethering bill, President Nawrocki chose to sign a different recently passed amendment to the animal‑protection law that bans the breeding of animals for fur.
