The year 2025 brings a number of changes for dog and cat owners in Poland. Under fresh regulations announced by Ministry of Finance, local governments across the country will have more opportunities to introduce four-legged fees. The aim of the changes is not only to increase the work of animal owners, but besides to supply financial support for local budgets that will be utilized to improve conditions for homeless animals.
Dog possession taxation in 2025
In Poland dog holding fee has been in operation for years, but the fresh rules extend its application. So far, many municipalities have resigned from charging this fee, considering it inefficient. Since 2025, mechanisms have been introduced to facilitate the enforcement of the fee and to increase its maximum amount.
- Maximum fee amount: According to the fresh regulations, municipalities can set a fee of up to PLN 150 per year for 1 dog (previously 135 zł).
- Exceptions to fees: Exemptions from fees are granted to persons over 65 years of age who run a single-person household as well as owners of assisting dogs.
- New: registration obligation: Each dog owner will be required to registry it in a national database run by the municipality. Non-registration of an animal may consequence in an administrative punishment of up to PLN 500.
Mandatory chipping of animals
In 2025 all dog owners will gotta mark their animals utilizing microchips. This change aims at facilitating the recognition of animals, reducing the number of homeless dogs and improving the work of shelters and city services.
- Chip Cost: The average cost of marking an animal is 50-100 zł, although in many municipalities free chips are organised.
- Time limit for the introduction of the obligation: Owners have time to mark their dogs by the end of 2025. After that date, the deficiency of a chip may consequence in the imposition of a mandate to PLN 500.
- Database: Data on marked animals will be collected in the central registry to which municipalities and veterinary services will have access.
Support for shelters and sterilisation programs
The fresh rules besides introduce an work for local governments to allocate part of the fees to improve conditions in animal shelters and to implement sterilisation and castration programmes.
- Budget for shelters: The Ministry provides that additional fees may be paid for the possession of municipal dogs PLN 200 million per year. This appropriation is intended to cover the modernisation of shelters, the acquisition of karma and support for animal adoption.
- Sterilisation programmes: In 2025, each municipality will be required to carry out at least 1 animal sterilization action in which owners will be able to usage treatments for free or at a reduced price.
New rules for cat owners
Although the regulations on pet charges so far have mainly included dogs, provision has besides been made since 2025 for cats leaving.
- Registration of cats: As with dogs, cat owners will gotta registry their animals in local databases.
- Sterilisation of outgoing cats: The fresh government imposes on cat owners who are obliged to sterilize or castrate them, which is intended to reduce the number of homeless animals. The cost of treatment under municipal programs is about 50-200 zł.
Penalties for abandoning animals
In 2025, penalties for abandoning animals were besides exacerbated. Under the fresh rules:
- Abandonment of an animal will be treated as a criminal offence punishable by penalties to 5 years in prison.
- Owners who deliberately neglect or abandon their animals may besides be subject to a financial punishment of up to PLN 10 thousand.
Social reactions to change
The fresh regulations make mixed reactions among Poles. On the 1 hand, animal welfare organisations praise the introduction of mandatory chipping and sterilisation programmes as a step towards reducing the number of homeless animals. On the another hand, many owners fear additional costs associated with registration and fees.
According to a survey conducted by Public Opinion investigation Institute (ICOP) in December 2024, until 67% of Poles supports mandatory dog chipping, and 54% considers that introducing fees for the possession of animals can aid improve the situation in shelters.
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New responsibilities for four-legged owners: What changes in 2025?
