Kulbergs on Carnikava dog attack: dangerous dogs should be euthanised

Following the September 4 dog attack in Carnikava, in which six children and a teacher were injured, Andris Kulbergs has publicly shared his opinion on the case. He believes dogs that bite people in public should not be allowed on the streets, and if an owner cannot properly care for and supervise such an animal, it should be euthanised.

Kulbergs says he understands the seriousness of the issue, as he has young children himself. He also recalled an incident from his own childhood: at age nine he was pulled off his bicycle and bitten by a wolf-breed dog that had not been vaccinated against rabies, forcing him to undergo 21 injections in the abdomen. He says the scar from the bite remains to this day.

In his view, primary responsibility lies with the dog's owner, while the animal's fate should ultimately be decided by police. He added that if current regulations are insufficient, they should be changed.

Legal background

Following the Carnikava incident, the State Police launched a criminal investigation, while municipal police opened administrative violation proceedings. After initial procedural steps, the dogs were returned to their owner.

Since July 1 this year, amendments to the Animal Protection Law have been in force, establishing special rules for dogs that have attacked people, including cases where euthanasia is mandatory — specifically when a dog causes serious bodily harm or death and a court ruling on the owner's criminal liability has taken effect. This means euthanasia is not automatic immediately after an attack.

The Ministry of Agriculture was required to draft Cabinet regulations by July 1 setting stricter conditions for keeping dogs that have attacked people, including muzzles, short leashes, and adult supervision, but these regulations have not yet been adopted. Kulbergs stresses that this delay was not the reason the Carnikava dogs were returned to their owner, but it does show that the new safety framework has not been fully implemented nationwide.