In a swift response to a growing crisis, the Kemerovo regional government has declared a state of emergency in Novokuznetsk due to a concerning rise in incidents involving stray dogs. The announcement came on March 25, 2025, as officials reacted to a staggering increase in complaints from residents about aggressive dogs on the streets.
Sergei Lysenko, the head of the Kuzbass veterinary department, initiated this emergency regime following numerous reports concerning the safety of the public. Statistics from Rospotrebnadzor highlighted the urgency of the situation: since the beginning of the year, 233 individuals have sought medical attention for dog bites, with 109 of those injuries attributed to stray dogs.
This emergency measure impacts five districts within Novokuznetsk, where residents have reported multiple attacks on domestic pets and expressed their fear of walking the streets. One such area, the village of Listvyagi in the Kuibyshevsky district, has particularly been noted for escalating incidents where stray dogs targeted household animals.
City officials reported that complaints have also flooded in from the Zavodsky, Ordzhonikidzevsky, Central, and Kuznetsk districts, prompting the declaration of the heightened state. These complaints have led to a sharper focus on the management of stray dogs in the city.
Over the past five years, local authorities have established a contract for the management of stray animals, focusing on capturing, chipping, sterilizing, and returning non-aggressive strays back to their habitat. In 2024 alone, 2,327 stray dogs were captured as part of these efforts. However, a noticeable increase in dog-related incidents, including the proliferation of aggressive stray packs, has undermined these measures.
According to the government decree No. 90 approved on February 27, 2025, a new framework for handling stray dogs has been put in place. Under this extraordinary legal regime, all captured dogs are to be placed in temporary detention centers. Owners can retrieve their pets within ten days if they can prove ownership. If unclaimed, these strays may face euthanasia as part of the emergency measures, which remain controversial.
Despite these established protocols, fears among the community have grown. Reports of escalating attacks have led to increased pressure on city services to ensure public safety. Notably, the administration emphasized that responsibility for the ongoing problem rests not only with governmental entities but also significantly with pet owners. “The responsibility for solving the problem with dog attacks lies not only with the authorities but also with the pet owners,” a representative from the Novokuznetsk administration stated, highlighting the shared responsibility in addressing the crisis.
Nevertheless, complaints must be submitted with contact information—specifically the applicant’s name and phone number—as anonymous reports are no longer accepted, signaling a move toward more accountable community engagement in the issue.
This proactive approach by the Kemerovo regional government aims to swiftly address the significant public safety concerns surrounding stray dogs in Novokuznetsk. While the response is a direct reaction to public outcry, it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be in securing the safety of residents and managing the stray population responsibly.
In a broader context, this situation is emblematic of the challenges faced in managing animal welfare amid rising urban populations and the complexities of human-animal interactions in densely populated areas. The situation in Novokuznetsk and the measures being implemented can serve both as a warning and a blueprint for other regions grappling with similar issues involving stray animals.
