Russia Moves to Digitize Pet Ownership with Nationwide Registry

A new bill would require Russian pet owners to register their animals in a federal veterinary database—backed by five ministries and tighter penalties.

Russia is preparing to introduce a digital system for tracking pet ownership. The government is drafting a bill to be submitted to the State Duma that mandates the registration of all domestic animals in a centralized federal system, according to TASS.

The legislation is being developed jointly by five ministries: Natural Resources, Economic Development, Finance, Agriculture, and Digital Development. If passed, pet owners will be legally required to enter their animals' information—including age, sex, and other details—into the Federal State Information System (FGIS) for veterinary oversight.

In parallel, the government is proposing stricter penalties for improper pet care. Fines could reach up to 300,000 rubles for businesses and 50,000 rubles for individuals.

Experts say the digital registry will help enforce animal welfare rules and improve response to abuse cases. Some regions already mandate pet microchipping; for example, in the Orenburg region, owners visit state-run veterinary clinics where each dog receives a personal file and an implanted ID chip.