A draft decree outlining measures to mitigate potential harm caused by stray dogs has been published on the Smolny website. The document, released on June 10, codifies existing procedures for managing stray animal populations and addressing potential dangers they pose.

The decree specifies situations where stray dogs are deemed a risk, including their presence in crowded public areas, near heating networks, and around waste accumulation sites. Furthermore, groups of five or more stray dogs are considered dangerous, as are individual animals lacking both owners and vaccinations against rabies and other diseases.

To minimize the risk to citizens, authorities will monitor stray dog populations, identify and capture animals for placement in shelters, and implement preventive measures. These prevention efforts involve vaccinating stray animals and capturing them for shelter placement, though St. Petersburg currently lacks state-run shelters.

The decree emphasizes the importance of educating the public about responsible treatment of stray dogs and the necessity of their capture. State bodies are tasked with maintaining statistics on stray animal populations, while local officials must monitor areas where waste accumulates.

Sources within the Legislative Assembly suggest that the draft decree is a response to criticism from State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin regarding existing legislation on stray dogs. Volodin had previously called for initiatives to protect children from stray animals after a fatal dog attack in Stavropol in February.

In March, the State Duma formally appealed to the government, requesting its position on animal treatment and proposed solutions to related challenges.