“The discussion of the draft law on domestic animals in the Georgian Parliament is set to begin this week. This marks a significant step forward in addressing the issue of stray dogs through legislative measures,” said Maia Bitadze, Chairperson of the Parliament’s Committee on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.

According to Bitadze, stringent sanctions will be imposed on owners who breed animals irresponsibly, abandon them, and leave them to roam the streets. A considerable fine has been established for such violations.

“The draft law on domestic animals will be discussed in Parliament this week. This is a crucial milestone in regulating the problem of stray dogs at the legislative level and ensuring strict penalties for owners who breed animals without control, then abandon them and dump them on the streets. A substantial fine has been introduced for these offences.

One of the most crucial aspects of the law is the creation of a unified electronic database. Following the law’s enactment, owners will be required to register or re-register their animals using a special microchip and tag, which will ultimately ensure the traceability of each animal.

Additionally, regulations concerning the breeding of dogs and cats are being tightened. Only registered kennels will be authorised to breed animals, and the state will have clear oversight of who is responsible for breeding. Furthermore, animals will be registered across all institutions they visit—whether veterinary clinics, kennels, hotels, or other facilities—and these establishments must verify animal registration in the centralised database. Severe sanctions will be imposed for violations.

The law also introduces a state program aimed at managing homeless animals. During the transitional period, municipalities, in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, will implement a detailed plan and schedule. All homeless animals will be microchipped, sterilised, and castrated. Additionally, support programs will be developed to assist rural owners in need of proper care for their animals.

An important innovation in the law is that approximately one year after its adoption, all animals born will be subject to sterilisation and castration. The government will also have the authority to impose a moratorium on breeding certain breeds of dogs,” explained Maia Bitadze.