Riga to allow unleashed dogs only in designated dog parks

On Tuesday, the Riga City Council's Housing and Environment Committee approved new draft municipal bylaws that change the rules for walking dogs in the city.

Under the approved regulations, dogs in Riga will in future be allowed off the leash only within specially equipped dog-walking areas set aside for that purpose. This means that outside such designated enclosed areas, dogs within the city must be kept on a leash.

The committee's approval marks a step forward for the new bylaws, which are intended to govern the keeping and walking of animals within Riga's municipal territory. Further details on which specific areas will be recognized as designated dog-walking zones, as well as when the rules will take effect, depend on the full approved document.