When asked whether the dog ownership tax helps foster a more responsible attitude toward animals, Nadezhda Sevruk noted that the measure is primarily linked to the infrastructure that needs to be maintained. «Why do dog owners pay a tax while owners of other companion animals do not? This is primarily tied to landscaping and street cleaning. Currently, the tax is not earmarked for specific purposes. It simply goes into the local budget, which decides how to allocate it,» she said.

According to the deputy department head, owners are becoming more responsible and are registering their pets more often. «The tax no longer deters them. We can see a growing trend in the number of registered animals since the new law came into effect,» Nadezhda Sevruk said.