Leaving a dog or cat tethered outdoors day after day will soon be against the law in Poland.
President Karol Nawrocki was presented with an updated bill that would protect dogs and cats from being tethered outside day after day. He signed the new law, giving dogs and cats legal protection from a life spent at the end of a chain.
The change will not happen right away. Although the law was published in July of 2026, the ban will not take effect until July of 2027.
The law allows short-term restraint in limited situations, including transport, veterinary or grooming care, and immediate safety emergencies. None of these exceptions, however, allows anyone to leave an animal tethered outside day after day.
Dogs kept outdoors must generally be able to move freely on fenced land. When a kennel is allowed, dogs must have enough room for natural movement and daily exercise suited to their age, health, and behavioral needs. Kennels must also provide ventilation and light, and dogs housed outdoors or in an unheated room must have an insulated shelter.
Long-term tethering can expose dogs to entanglement and injury while limiting exercise and social contact, according to veterinary researchers. Isolation and restriction may also contribute to boredom, frustration, excessive barking, repetitive pacing or spinning, and other signs of distress.
A permanent tether can shrink an animal’s world to the length of a chain. That is why Lady Freethinker welcomes Poland’s decision and is grateful to see animal welfare receive greater consideration. Dogs and cats need room to move, explore, and connect.
No dog should spend their life on a chain. Sign Lady Freethinker’s pledge to keep dogs chain-free.
