President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed amendments to the Code of Administrative Responsibility on 17 January, increasing fines for violating animal care regulations. The amendments were adopted by the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 19 December and approved by the Senate on 21 December, 2024.
Article 110 of the code, previously titled “Violation of rules for keeping dogs and cats”, was renamed “Violation of animal care rules”.
Under the updated article, violations of animal care regulations in cities and other settlements, as well as failure by officials to capture and manage stray animals, now carry fines ranging from 3 to 5 basic calculation units ($86.5 to $144) for individuals (previously 0.1 to 0.5 BCU) and from 5 to 10 BCU ($144 to $288) for officials (previously 0.5 to 1 BCU).
If such violations result in harm to human health or damage to personal or corporate property without constituting a criminal offense, the fines increase to 10−15 BCU ($288 to $432.5) for individuals (previously 0.5 to 1 BCU) and 15−30 BCU ($432.5 to $865) for officials (previously 1 to 2 BCU).
The regulations for keeping pets were established by a government decree back in 2011. These require all dogs in populated areas to be registered upon their first vaccination and re-registered annually. Dogs must also receive mandatory rabies vaccinations.
In apartment buildings, residents can keep no more than one dog and one cat, provided they have the consent of their neighbors and the homeowners' association. In standalone houses, dogs must be kept on a leash, with free roaming allowed only in fenced areas.
The same decree also established municipal and district departments responsible for capturing stray animals. However, residents and animal rights activists frequently report cruelty by capture teams. In 2019, the president signed a decree calling for a critical review of stray animal management practices and their improvement, emphasizing humane treatment and proper notification of pet owners. Despite this, significant reforms in the sector have yet to be implemented.
Ban on keeping wild animals
A new article 92−1 titled “Keeping wild animals prohibited for private ownership”, has been added to the code. It imposes fines of 5−10 BCU ($144 to $288) and confiscation of animals for individuals who keep prohibited wild animals in semi-free conditions, artificial habitats or captivity.
If such violations result in harm to human health or property, fines increase to 30−50 BCU ($865 to $1,442), along with confiscation of the animals.
In September 2023, a president’s decree introduced amendments to the law “On the protection and use of wildlife”, banning individuals from keeping certain wild animals in semi-free conditions, artificial habitats or captivity. In November 2024, a list of prohibited wild animals was approved, along with a ban on their use in circuses. By 2025, all such animals must be transferred to zoos and sanctuaries.
