The lawyer stated the risks of removing pets for the debts of the owners

The legal status of pets in Russia remains ambiguous, which creates a significant legal conflict when attempting to collect debts from their owners. As Sofya Lukinova, head of the legal department of VMT Consult, told Izvestia on January 30, the Civil Code formally classifies animals as objects of property rights, however, with an important caveat: cruelty contrary to the principles of humanity is not allowed when treating them.

"This provision allows bailiffs to formally include pets in the debtor's inventory of property, but in practice such a measure is rarely used. A living being capable of suffering cannot be considered as an ordinary asset comparable to household appliances or a car, even despite mandatory registration and chipping," explained Lukinova.

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The main risk for the owner, according to her, is that the formal inclusion of an animal in the inventory may lead to an attempt to remove it and then transfer it for temporary maintenance or sale. For a pet, this means serious stress, potential harm to health and a break in emotional connection with the owner. For the owner, there are not only deep emotional losses, but also complex legal procedures for the return of the animal.

The expert also noted that the practical implementation of animals in the framework of enforcement proceedings is fraught with significant organizational difficulties: special conditions of detention, constant veterinary control and the search for a responsible buyer are required.

"These circumstances often make confiscation economically impractical, which is an additional deterrent for bailiffs. Despite the formal possibility, the removal of pets for debts remains an exceptional, rather than an ordinary measure," the lawyer concluded.

On January 14, Vladimir Golubev, President of the Russian Cynological Federation, in an interview with Izvestia, dispelled the widespread myth that wool always reliably protects an animal from the cold. He named the symptoms of frostbite in the pet. At the initial stage of hypothermia, the dog begins to tremble, it tucks its paws, and the ears and pads of its paws get cold.

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