Act No. 23 amending the Act on Sled Dogs and the Keeping of Dogs and Cats (Introducing a ban on fighting dogs and muscular dogs).

This Act amends Act No. 18 on sled dogs and the keeping of dogs and cats by introducing stricter rules to protect people and animals. It prohibits dog fighting, allows courts to ban individuals from owning dogs if they misuse them, and establishes a ban on the possession, import, and breeding of specific breeds classified as fighting or muscular dogs (including pit bull terrier, tosa inu, American staffordshire terrier, dogo argentino, and others). Dogs illegally kept or imported must be put down at the owner’s expense, and owners must provide proof of breed if requested by police. People who already owned such dogs before January 1, 2012 can keep them under strict conditions (no transfer, must be leashed and muzzled in public). Violations can lead to fines, bans on animal ownership, and confiscation, with penalties paid to the Treasury.