Act No. XXVIII of 1998 on animal protection.

The intention of this Act is the promotion of the protection of animals, the increase of the sense of responsibility of humans in the interest of tolerant treatment of animals, and the determination of the principles of animal protection. This Act applies to animals kept or used for breeding and experimental purposes, for sporting events, kept as sheep dogs, guarding dogs, protecting dogs, rescue dogs, blind man's dog, etc., to animals used for hunting, to animals exhibited in shows and fairs, to animals kept by the army, the police and other guarding services, to pets, and lastly, to dangerous animals, stray domestic animals, animals kept in zoological gardens, reserves, and to wild animals in captivity if other rules of law do not prescribe otherwise.
Animals must not be tortured, set against humans or other animals, trained to fight, feed forcibly, forced to performance exceeding their potential, made accustomed to unnatural and self-destructing activities. Animals may be killed only for acceptable purposes such as nutrition, fur production, stock regulation, fatal disease, risk of epidemic, destruction of harmful animals, prevention of attack, and scientific research. This Act contains special rules for the keeping and treatment of animals for slaughter and for dangerous animals in Chapter III. Chapter IV deals, in detail, with experiments. Transport of animals is ruled by Chapter V. General rules of establishment and maintenance of zoological gardens are set out in Chapter VI. Animal pensions and houses of refuge are regulated in Chapter VII. A penalty is foreseen for offenders in Chapter IX.
In addition to general duty-of-care standards, the Act sets strict operational parameters for commercial, scientific, and public entities interacting with animals. It establishes detailed regulatory frameworks for animal shelters, boarding facilities (állatpanzió), zoos, and circus menageries, while governing the specific conditions under which animal experimentation and transport may occur. Specialized categories—such as service dogs (police, military, guide, and rescue dogs), hunting animals, and dangerous species—are subject to dedicated provisions that balance operational necessity with humane treatment standards, ensuring that performance or utility never excuses avoidable suffering or physical harm.
Furthermore, the Act provides robust administrative enforcement mechanisms and penalties to address statutory violations and prevent recurring harm. Competent animal protection authorities are empowered to issue compliance orders, levy administrative fines, restrict or revoke animal-keeping privileges, and order the temporary or permanent seizure and relocation of mistreated animals. The Act bridges public health, ethical treatment, and environmental stewardship, ensuring an enforceable standard of animal welfare across Hungary.