Cyprus parliament passes new legislation on dog welfare

The Cyprus House of Representatives has approved the Dogs (Amendment) Law 2026, concluding a decade of legislative debate. Key provisions include mandatory registration for dogs over two months old and the requirement to wear a collar with a license and phone number tag. Dog owners must now report the death of a pet with a veterinary certificate within seven working days and notify authorities of any loss or theft within two working days. Walking a dog without a leash or failing to clean up waste is now a criminal offense, with an on-the-spot fine of €100 for the latter. Hunting dogs are exempt from the leash requirement in designated areas. The law also increases annual ownership and breeding fees to discourage uncontrolled reproduction and abandonment. While some members of parliament raised concerns regarding the lack of shelters and the need for government support, the bill passed following a unified legislative effort by several deputies including Charalambos Theopemptou and Kostis Efstathiou.