Parliament speaker calls for clear rules after dog attack on kindergarten children in Carnikava

Saeima Speaker Daiga Mieriņa (Union of Greens and Farmers) has responded to Friday's incident in Carnikava, where dogs bit six children from the "Riekstiņš" kindergarten during a walk, calling for clear and unified criteria on how institutions should act in such cases. She stressed that public safety must be a priority and that responses from state and municipal institutions should not vary from case to case.

Mieriņa said municipal police should have the authority to immediately remove a dog and place it in a safe location while the situation is fully assessed, which would help prevent repeat danger while still preserving the owner's right to a fair evaluation. She also called for stricter requirements for dog owners, particularly in cases where an animal has already attacked someone, and for strengthening mandatory training requirements for both the dog and its owner.

What happened

On Friday, a group of 19 children accompanied by a teacher and a teacher's assistant went on a pre-approved walk outside the kindergarten grounds. Near Lašu Street, two unsupervised dogs approached the group and bit six children, two of whom were hospitalized. One of the accompanying teachers was also injured while trying to protect the children. A passing driver stopped to help, taking some of the children into his car. Video allegedly showing the moment of the attack has circulated on social media.

Expert comment

Lita Konopore, deputy head of the small animal section of the Veterinary Association, said the dogs should have been removed immediately, with further decisions made afterward. She said the incident reflects long-standing public tolerance toward owners who allow their dogs to roam free, noting that biting is a natural instinct that cannot be trained out of an animal. She added that the presence of two dogs increased the danger, since they can form a pack. According to Konopore, the only solution is responsible supervision by owners, along with municipalities' duty to monitor risk areas and ensure dogs are chipped and registered.