WATCH OUT! DOG WITHOUT A MUZZLE ON!

Yes. This problem does exist. Purebred fighting dogs are often walked in the streets of Baku without muzzles on. Experienced dog handlers say that dogs, especially large breeds, must be walked in public places only on a short leash and muzzled. The reason is that dogs are unpredictable, they can always decide that the owner is threatened and attack passers-by.

The problem of dog attacks on people in Azerbaijan is not as prevalent as, for example, in Russia. This country has registered dozens of accidents involving angry dogs attacking mostly children. And given this sad experience, I would like to point to the existence of the problem of walking large dogs in the streets of Baku. And this phenomenon has become so widespread in recent times that our readers have been raising the issue.

One incident occurred on the Baku boulevard. A man was walking with his son. Suddenly a Rottweiler without a muzzle ran towards the child. The dog's owner called her by a whistle but the child was very scared and started crying, so the father could not calm him down for a long time.

Fortunately, the incident did not lead to fatal consequences. It is hard to imagine what would have happened if such a dangerous breed as Rottweiler, ready to stand up for its master at any moment, saw a threat in the child and attacked him. As you know, there are many children walking and playing on the boulevard, but there are also many dogs whose owners are unabiding citizens. Under the current legislation, this fact is regarded as a violation of the rules for keeping dogs. According to Article 126 of the Code of the Azerbaijan Republic "On Administrative Offences", a violation of the rules for keeping dogs, cats and other animals is punishable by a penalty of 5 to 20 manats.

So, the pet rules forbid walking a dog without a muzzle and a leash. It is also forbidden to walk dogs on playgrounds, outside children's institutions, educational and medical facilities. It is prohibited to walk pets without an accompanying person, leave them unattended, enter shops, catering facilities and other organizations with dogs. Dogs can be walked in areas specifically designed for this purpose.

 The State Veterinary Service often receives complaints from citizens who have been attacked by dogs. If people record such cases, they should seek the assistance of the police which is responsible for public safety. The police will compile a protocol on non-compliance with pet rules on the part of dog owners and send the document to the Baku Veterinary Department which will then issue a penalty.

Interestingly, in an interview with local media, the chairperson of the Kennel Club which includes about a thousand people has said there is no such problem because there are only law-abiding citizens in the streets walking their pets with leashes and muzzles.

It seems that the Azerbaijani legislation should not consider this issue only as an administrative offense. It is necessary to study the problem in detail and take more radical decisions at the legislative level. In the summer, the number of people walking in parks and on the boulevard increases. It is to be hoped that Azerbaijani MPs will examine this issue this autumn so that by the next summer it translates into law.