The Public Security Police will be checking dogs and their owners, in an operation lasting until Saturday, February 4th, to verify that the new ‘dangerous dog’ laws are being followed, as well as current laws for all owners of companion canines.
The checks are focused on city areas and this ‘preventative action’ aims to boost awareness among dog owners that their pets must be on a lead when in public, they must be registered at the local Freguesia and their vaccination history must be up-to-date.
Fines await those who are ignorant or lazy with stricter legal conditions applying to owners of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs, including obligatory insurance and attendance on a training course accredited by the Public Security Police, or the GNR.
These courses started last September, about two years after the ‘dangerous dogs’ law was published, leaving owners in a legal limbo land but now there should be no allowable excuses.
This police operation has been named "Odeta" in honour of a long-serving German shepherd dog in the service of the PSP from 2007 until October 1, 2015, the day she died.
