Pets have become important members of Colombian families. According to Myriam Acero, a professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the National University of Colombia (UNAL), 40% of households in the country have at least one animal at home.
Dogs are among the favorite animals in the household. Although they can be very intelligent and loving, these animals require special measures and care, both at home and in public spaces.
Because there were numerous acts of violence and incidents involving some pets, the state decreed that preventive measures were mandatory for some dogs. Below we will tell you which breeds deserve this special care and what requirements the owners of these animals must meet.
Special care breeds 2023
These are the breeds that are subject to special management and must be muzzled according to Law 1801 of 2016:
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- bullmastiff
- Doberman
- Dogo Argentino
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Fila Brasileiro
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Bull Terrier
- Pit bull terrier
- American pit bull terrier
- Presa Canario
- rottweiler
- Staffordshire terriers
- Tosa Japanese
If the dog has had aggressive episodes towards a person, if it has caused the death of other dogs, or if it has been trained to attack or defend itself, it must also wear a muzzle, regardless of breed.
In addition to the muzzle, these dogs must be kept on a leash, especially on public streets, publicly accessible places and in common areas of buildings or residential complexes.
What happens if my dog ​​doesn’t have a muzzle?
In this case, any citizen can report him for violating the law. The police will contact you and inform you of the reported incidents. The animal will be confiscated and the owner will have to pay a fine for:
- 5 statutory minimum wage per day for not wearing a leash.
- 10 statutory minimum wage per day for not wearing a muzzle.
Requirements that a citizen of special races must meet
Colombians who have any of the above breeds must register their pet in the census of special guide dogs regulated by each mayor’s office. Keep in mind that those who fail to register may be fined 15 statutory minimum wages per day.
In the case of Bogotá, you must first collect the documents for registration:
- Letter addressed to the mayor’s office requesting your pet be registered with the census. There you will need to provide the name of the dog, ID (a photocopy of ID) and the address of the owner, a description of the dog’s phenotypic characteristics and its usual place of residence. They must occur if you live with people or work in protection or another task.
- Two 3×4 photos of the dog
- Two 3×4 photos of the owner
- Non-contractual liability insurance that must cover compensation for physical damage that dogs may cause to people, property or other animals.
- Current health certificate issued by the Ministry of Health in the different subnets.
- Dog breed vaccination certificate.
- Photocopy of the dog owner’s citizenship or immigration card.
If you have these documents, you must contact the local mayor’s offices or points in the CADE network to submit the registration application. This procedure is free.
