To avoid paying dog tax, Minsk residents started surrendering them to animal control centers
Volunteers helping homeless animals at the Minsk temporary detention center "Fauna of the City" on Hurskaha Street are sounding the alarm — there are no free enclosures.
In addition to the traditional replenishment of the center with animals after captures or street finds, the number of four-legged animals whose owners are abandoning them due to the new law on pet taxes has begun to grow. This primarily concerns dogs.
Photo: Facebook page "Hurskaha — not a shelter"
"Friends, there's trouble at Hurskaha in Minsk at 'Fauna of the City'. After the adoption of the new law, to avoid registering animals, people are bringing them in en masse from everywhere and surrendering them, surrendering them, surrendering them to the euthanasia facility. Domestic, unprotected animals. Animal control indiscriminately catches everyone who is self-walking. A war has been declared in Belarus against the most vulnerable and, undoubtedly, creatures full of love for humans. If anyone was thinking about a pet – now is the time," wrote one of the animal rights activists.
In just two days, 19 animals arrived at Hurskaha for the volunteers; there are no free enclosures or rooms left — several dogs have to huddle together in one cage.
Photo: Facebook page "Hurskaha — not a shelter"
Volunteers confirmed to a reader of "Nashaniva" that the overcrowding of enclosures is partly due to the dog tax coming into effect on July 1, 2026.
"There are a lot of surrendered animals. They are being given up almost daily. Some animals have already been taken, but we still have about 10 surrendered ones today, and their number will continue to grow," the volunteers said.
You can help the activists by taking one of the surrendered animals, even if only for temporary foster care.
Starting in 2026, a dog tax came into effect in Belarus. At the same time, new legislation requires owners to register all pets, including cats.
The tax for owning a dog is 14 rubles per quarter (if it is a potentially dangerous breed, then 67 rubles).
Dogs and cats can be registered for free at the local "One Window" service. Failure to register incurs a fine of 1 to 15 basic units (currently 45 to 675 rubles). And for non-payment of the tax, you will have to pay 15% of the outstanding amount.
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Гаспадары якія здаюць сваіх сабакаў - гэта бяздушныя пачвары.