All abandoned dogs and cats in the territory of Podgorica will have to be sterilized, and only dog and cat owners who have a kennel registration certificate and receive approval from the authorities will be able to legally breed their pets.
This is, among other things, envisaged by the Draft Decision on the conditions and manner of keeping pets and the manner of dealing with abandoned and lost pets in the Capital City, for which a central public hearing has been scheduled for today.
The draft decision, in the part relating to reproduction control, stipulates that, when it comes to dogs and cats, it will be carried out through permanent sterilization, or castration:
"In the Capital City area, it is mandatory for all abandoned pets," it states.
For owners of purebred dogs and cats, as proposed, it is only allowed in cases where they have a decision on the registration of the kennel and if they have received permission from the competent administrative authority to breed dogs or cats.
"The breeding and reproduction of pets (e.g. dogs, cats, etc.) for commercial purposes, in residential buildings and houses, is prohibited, except in kennels that meet the requirements and are registered in accordance with the law," the Draft states.
In the case of uncontrolled breeding, as proposed, the pet owner is obliged to take care of the newborn pets or bear the actual costs incurred in a shelter for abandoned animals.
Exceptionally, as it says, the breeding of dogs and cats is prohibited until 2030, "except in registered kennels with the consent of the competent inspector."
Fines of 1.000 to 5.000 euros are also provided for violations of regulations in this regard.
The draft decision also stipulates that the Capital City will once a year publish a public call for subsidies for the sterilization and castration of owner-owned dogs and cats, whose owners reside in the territory of Podgorica. It is envisaged that the subsidy will amount to 50 percent of the total cost of sterilization, or castration, except for the first public call - after the decision enters into force.
The section on dealing with lost pets states that the owner is obliged to report the pet's disappearance within three days in the event of an escape. Once the pet is found, the owner must then ensure that the escape does not occur again. There is also an obligation to check with the owner the conditions in which the pet is kept.
If the owner does not claim the pet within 15 days, the pet will be confiscated and adoption proceedings may be initiated for it.
The explanation of the Draft Decision, among other things, states that the reasons for its adoption are to adapt it to "real needs".
"And which relate to the protection of pets, more precisely defining the rules and responsibilities of owners towards pets, improving the welfare conditions of pets, controlling reproduction and reducing the number of abandoned pets, as well as expanding the penal policy in this area."
As stated, the current decision "proved ineffective" in practice.
"That is why the number of abandoned pets, especially dogs, has significantly increased in the Capital in recent years, and the consequences of the increase in the number are being suffered by citizens and the Capital as well. Because of the above, there is a need to make a new decision that will encourage cooperation with citizens, volunteers, and non-governmental organizations in this segment, with the engagement of pet inspectors and clear application of penalty policies, all with the aim of raising awareness and responsibility towards pets and the environment."
The government recently published the Final Report on the Implementation of the National Dog Population Control Program in Montenegro for the period 2021 to 2024. The report applies to all local governments.
Among other things, they recalled that a dog identification and registration system was established in 2019, that the Veterinary, Food Safety and Phytosanitary Administration procured rabies vaccines, microchips and dog passports, and that they were distributed to veterinary clinics, which performed chipping.
According to the data published in the document, as of December 31, 2024, a total of 33.263 dogs were registered in the pet registry (dogs) in Montenegro.
It is also recalled that, according to the national Program, each local government is obliged to adopt a local plan for dog population control.
They also stated that abandoned and unsupervised dogs represent a health, safety, social and environmental problem, and at the same time, the welfare of these animals is drastically impaired.
The central public debate begins at 10:00 a.m., in the building of the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica.
Comments, proposals and suggestions from citizens and other participants on the Draft Decision can be sent in writing two days later, until November 20, to the address of the Secretariat for Communal Affairs (Rimski trg 50), or via e-mail to sekretariat.kps@podgorica.me.
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