Riga Fails to Adopt New Dog Walking Rules: What Remains in Effect

Debates have erupted in the Riga City Council regarding new dog ownership rules. The local government intended to further establish the obligation to walk dogs on a leash and to eliminate the annual fee for dog ownership. However, the proposed changes did not receive the necessary support from the deputies, reports the program "900 Seconds" ([TV3](https://tv3.lv/zinas/latvija/sabiedriba/rigas-dome-nespej-vienoties-par-stingrakiem-sunu-pastaigu-noteikumiem/)). ## Where Dogs Cannot Be Let Off the Leash The obligation to keep dogs on a leash in public places is already provided for by the Cabinet of Ministers' regulations. The Riga local government wanted to specifically reinforce this requirement at the city level, paying particular attention to places where safety is especially important. This primarily concerns children's playgrounds, educational institution grounds, and official swimming areas during the bathing season. At the same time, the ban on letting dogs roam freely in the city is currently in effect. Pets are only allowed to be let off the leash in specially equipped dog parks. ## Dog Owners Are Divided in Opinion Residents of Riga interviewed by TV3 have differing views on the restrictions. Dog owner Evita supports the leash requirement. According to her, freely running dogs create problems even for those who follow the rules. > "The fact that dogs are not let off the leash is only a positive aspect because my dog is very scared. If any dog runs up to us, the walk becomes stressful for us. We have neighbors who walk their dog off-leash, so we go out at different times," she said. Another owner, Karlis, also believes that a leash is an essential part of walking. He notes that large dogs do not necessarily exhibit high activity, and he always walks his pets on a leash. At the same time, Gintars admits that he sometimes allows his dog to run freely if there is no one around. > "If the park is empty, I let the dog go so it can run a bit. Mostly we walk on a leash. The dog is obedient; we went to dog school, so there are no problems," the man explained. Many owners of sporting dogs, who need the ability to actively train their pets, also oppose tightening the rules. ## Why Deputies Could Not Reach an Agreement During the discussion, representatives of the local government referred to the case of a dog attack in Carnikava. This incident was cited as an argument in favor of additional safety measures. However, there was no consensus among the deputies. The discussions lasted about an hour, after which a break was announced. The subsequent vote did not yield the necessary majority, and the new rules were not adopted. Thus, the existing order remains in effect, and the proposed cancellation of the annual fee for dog ownership did not take place either. ## Two More Dog Parks to Open in Riga Currently, there are eight special parks in the capital where dogs are allowed to be let off the leash. Two more are planned to open soon. One of the new parks will be located near the Island Bridge. This will provide dog owners with additional space for free walks with their pets without violating city restrictions. The issue affects a significant portion of the capital's residents: according to official data, about 58,000 dogs are registered in Riga. ## What Happens Next A new date for reviewing the rules has not yet been determined. Before returning to voting, the local government intends to listen to the opinions of non-governmental organizations. Until a new decision is made, dog owners must comply with the existing restrictions, and the annual fee for their maintenance remains in effect.