Tails registered: in Russia they plan to oblige to sell dogs and cats with documents
The State Duma has supported in the first reading a draft law on the regulation of breeding pedigreed animals, which provides for mandatory documents on the origin of dogs and cats, the creation of a federal register of breeders and control over breeding activities. The law may enter into force on September 1, 2026. About how the authorities propose to rebuild the market and what risks professional dog handlers see in the new rules, see the Izvestia article.
Why did the authorities decide to tighten the rules of animal breeding
The initiative was supported by the State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection on January 14. Amendments are planned to be introduced into the law "On responsible treatment of animals".
The document introduces basic definitions — who is considered a breeder, what is animal breeding and a certificate of origin. It is necessary to approve the list of mandatory documents that must be transferred during the sale or other alienation of the animal. It is assumed that the new requirements will primarily affect dogs and cats.
The authors of the bill believe that such measures will help limit illegal and uncontrolled breeding, as well as reduce the number of animals with hereditary diseases and behavioral problems.
In addition, it is proposed to create a single non-profit organization at the federal level. She will keep a register of breeders, establish breeding rules, train specialists, organize exhibitions and monitor compliance with standards.
The bill also provides for the introduction of a classification of breeding purposes. Among them are the improvement of breeds and the alienation of offspring, the use of animals for official or scientific purposes, as well as breeding for personal maintenance.
The rules for accounting for breeders, the procedure for inclusion and exclusion from the register, the mechanism for collecting targeted contributions and state control over the activities of the new organization are prescribed separately.
How widespread is uncontrolled breeding today
The head of the Orlov School Dog Training Center, Vitaly Orlov, believes that the problem lies not only in the lack of formal documents, but also in the approach to the breeding process itself.
— Breeding dogs and cats is an activity that requires an understanding of the mechanism of selection and admission. The main criteria are health and character. But today, breeding is often allowed for design and appearance, neglecting psychology and genetics," the expert explained.
According to him, the differences between legal and illegal breeding are often blurred precisely because of the lack of a culture of producer selection.
"In order to avoid problems with the quality of livestock, it is necessary not so much to strengthen control as to form an understanding of the criteria for admission to breeding," Orlov emphasized.
The cynologist is also skeptical about the idea that mandatory certificates of origin will automatically increase the level of breeding work.
— The availability of documents alone will not solve the problem if the priority of health and character does not become the main one neither for breeders nor for those who will regulate the industry. This will only add bureaucracy, and the quality of livestock will continue to decline," he believes.
According to the expert, formal control without educational work with future owners and breeders will not lead to systemic changes.
What risks do conscientious nurseries see?
A separate issue is the possible consequences of the reform for small and responsible nurseries. Orlov notes that professional breeding is rarely profitable.
— Dog breeding is a subsidized field, as a science. To get mentally and physically healthy livestock, we constantly invest and almost always remain in the red. Our bonus is full—fledged animals with a stable character," he explained.
The dog handler fears that additional regulation and increased bureaucratic workload may complicate the work of those who already adhere to high standards.
"With further complication of the rules, the problems will not go away, but will only multiply," the expert added.
Can the market go into the shadows and will animals become more expensive
According to Orlov, stricter requirements may lead to higher prices and the preservation of gray schemes.
— The market is supply and demand. Most buyers are not looking for healthy animals, but fashionable, prestigious or cheaper ones. This is what fuels low—quality breeding," he said.
The expert believes that administrative measures cannot solve the problem without changing the attitude of the owners themselves.
— If we want to improve the quality of livestock, we need not to act with prohibitions, but to educate people: to explain that a dog or cat is not fashion, but health and psyche. Until this happens, additional restrictions will only worsen the situation," the dog handler emphasized.
So far, the document has passed only the first reading, and its parameters may change by the second stage of the discussion. Deputies can specify the requirements for documents, the procedure of the breeders' register and the mechanism of state control.
If the initiative is adopted in its final form, the Russian dog and cat breeding market will undergo a serious restructuring. Owners and nurseries will have to adapt to the new rules, and buyers will have to pay more attention to the origin of animals.
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