The initiative was prompted by a problem that, as it turned out, the current legislation does not effectively allow to address. Currently, there are no unified rules for the establishment of kennels and oversight of their activities in cases where animals are kept properly but still seriously disturb neighbors. The Animal Protection Law requires the owner to ensure that their pets do not disturb or threaten people and other animals. There are penalties for violations of animal welfare requirements. However, a legal gap arises if dogs, for example, constantly bark or howl, and odors emanate from the kennel, while there are no formal violations of animal welfare requirements. Theoretically, the owner could be held administratively liable for disturbing public order. However, as the ombudsman notes, this mechanism does not always work in practice. State and municipal police have, in some cases, refused to initiate administrative proceedings, explaining that liability for disturbing public order does not extend to noise created by animals. ### Ten Dogs Have Been Keeping Neighbors Awake Since 2022 As a telling example, Karina Palkova cites the situation on Misas Street in Riga, where a dog kennel operates in one of the houses. According to local residents, there are at least ten dogs kept there. Their prolonged barking and howling, including at night, disturb neighbors' rest and significantly affect their quality of life. Moreover, this problem did not arise yesterday — residents claim they have been forced to endure the noise since 2022. The ombudsman believes that fines alone are insufficient to resolve such conflicts. The kennel owner may pay a fine and continue their commercial activities, while nothing changes for the neighbors. Therefore, a mechanism is needed that not only punishes for past violations but also prevents constant noise, odors, and other inconveniences in advance. > "The activities of an animal kennel cannot be more important than a person's right to peace and safety in their own home. A person has the right to rest peacefully, care for their health, and provide children with an environment conducive to their full physical and emotional development," emphasized Karina Palkova. ### Who Should Control Kennels? The problem also lies in the fact that Latvia still lacks a unified definition of a pet kennel and has not determined which ministry should be responsible for developing the relevant rules. Previously, at the suggestion of the Ministry of Agriculture, pet kennels were included in the description of the development of animal care institutions in the land use classification. The ombudsman considers this a step in the right direction but notes that it does not establish a specific procedure for the creation and oversight of kennels. EU regulations on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats will not fully resolve the problem. They concern the keeping and breeding of animals, their registration, traceability, and trade, but do not establish rules for the placement of kennels and oversight of their impact on neighbors. As a possible model, Palkova suggests using the rules that already apply to shelters and boarding facilities for animals. Specific requirements for registration and operation have been established for them, taking into account the interests of people living nearby. Now the ombudsman expects a concrete solution from the government: unified rules for the establishment and oversight of kennels should ensure a balance between the right to engage in animal breeding and the neighbors' right to peace, safety, and normal living conditions.
