Owning Dangerous Dogs

The State of Israel has defined a number of dangerous dog breeds by law. In addition, the municipal veterinarian has the authority to define any dog within the jurisdiction as dangerous, at its discretion and in accordance with the law.

List of dogs defined as dangerous by law:

  • Amstaff
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • Bull Terrier
  • Pit Bull
  • Rottweiler
  • Dogo Argentino
  • Fila Brasileiro
  • Japanese Tosa Inu
  • American Bully
  • Any dog that is a crossbreed of the above dogs and whose behavior patterns and physical characteristics are similar to those of a dog belonging to a dangerous breed
     

Conditions for keeping a dangerous breed of dog (these conditions are in addition to the conditions for keeping a dog):

  1. The owners of a dangerous dog must be over 18 years of age.
  2. The dog's mouth must be muzzled at all times when there are other people in the vicinity and when in a public area.
  3. The yard where the dog is kept must be fenced and locked to prevent the dog from escaping. There must be a sign in the yard that says “Beware of Dangerous Dog.”
  4. The dog's owners must have the dog spayed or neutered if it is over 6 months old.
  5. The dog must not be released in parks or dog parks.
  6. The dog's owners must not sell or give the dog to anyone else, except to a municipal kennel, an animal welfare organization, the security forces, or another person approved by the municipal veterinarian.
  7. The owner or keeper of a dangerous dog shall not allow the dog to leave the premises or be in a public place unless all of the following conditions are met:
    • The dog is kept by a person over the age of 18 who is capable of controlling it at all times and preventing it from harming others.
    • The dog is kept on a leash from which it cannot escape and which is no longer than 2 meters.
    • The dog's mouth is muzzled.

For all provisions of the law regarding the keeping of dangerous dogs, please refer to the Regulations for the Supervision of Dogs (Import and Keeping of Dangerous Dogs) 5765-2004.

In the Event of a Dog or Cat bite

Wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, disinfect it with antiseptic, and go to a health clinic or emergency room as needed. It is important to obtain full details about the type of animal, its description, and the full details of its owner (address, name, etc.), so that the animal can be located and placed under observation for rabies at the Municipal Veterinary Service.

If the animal's owner is unknown, contact the Municipal Veterinary Service by phone at 08-9279934 or the Municipal Hotline at 106, so that the animal can be caught and transferred to a rabies observation quarantine.

In any case of a bite, scratch, or suspicious contact between a person and an animal, contact the Ramla Health Office:

Ministry of Health – Animal Bites Department

Address: 3 Dani St., Ramla, phone: 08-9181212, hours of operation: Sunday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Animal Licensing in the City of Lod

According to the Municipal by-law “Animal Ownership - 1988,” every animal (except dogs, which are licensed under a different law) kept in the city for agricultural, training, experimental, or hobby purposes must have a license from the Municipality.

Keeping animals without a permit is a violation of the bylaw and may result in fines and various legal proceedings against the owner. In addition to the permit, the owner of the animal is responsible for caring for all its needs and preventing disease as required by law.

You can apply for a license at the municipal veterinary service during office hours.

Dog Licensing in the City of Lod

Every dog over 3 months old must have a license, which is issued by the municipal veterinarian based on the permanent address where the dogs and their owners live.

Conditions for obtaining a license:

  1. Valid subcutaneous microchip - The microchip is a small electronic component, about the size of a grain of rice, which carries a serial number. The microchip is inserted under the dog's skin once in its lifetime, and the number serves as the dog's identity card. The microchip number can be read using a microchip reader. When the license is issued, the chip is checked for proper functioning using a chip reader.
  2. Rabies vaccination - The vaccine is administered to the dog by subcutaneous or intramuscular injection. At the time of writing, the vaccine is valid for one year according to the guidelines of the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and must be renewed annually. The vaccine can only be administered by a licensed veterinarian.
  3. License fee payment - An annual license fee must be paid. Payment can be made via a link sent to your mobile phone or at the Veterinary Services Offices by credit card only. Payment can also be made at the municipal collection department. The fee is set periodically by the Veterinary Services of the Ministry of Agriculture.
  4. The Municipal Veterinary Service may set additional conditions in the dog license to ensure the dog's welfare, health, and public safety.
  5. The dog license must be renewed every year, and the Municipal Veterinary Service must be notified of any changes in status.
  6. Transfer of dog ownership - Ownership is transferred using the transfer of ownership form, which can be downloaded here. A photocopy of the ID of the current owner and the new owner must be attached to the form. Without completing the form and attaching photocopies of ID cards, the transfer of ownership will not be carried out and the dog will remain registered to the current owner, who will bear legal responsibility for keeping the dog.

Conditions for a Dog License:

  1. No person may keep a dog older than three months unless they have been issued a valid license.
  2. No person shall keep a dog unless they are at least 16 years of age.
  3. The dog owner shall take all necessary measures to prevent danger to public safety and health.
  4. Every dog must be marked with an electronic chip approved by the Director of Veterinary Services.
  5. The owner of a dog shall vaccinate his dog against rabies at least once every two years.
  6. The owner of a dog shall not allow it to leave his yard/home unless it is held by a person capable of controlling it, using a leash no longer than 5 meters.
  7. If a dog bites a person, the owner must report this to the municipal veterinary service within 24 hours of becoming aware of the incident and take the dog to a quarantine station for 10 days.
  8. The owner of a dog kept in a yard must place a sign in a visible location stating “Beware of Dog.”
  9. If a dog is lost, changes address, is transferred to another owner, or, unfortunately  dies, the owner must notify the Municipal Veterinary Service within 7 days.
  10. In addition to the above, municipal by-laws relating to dog ownership also apply.

Price List

Dog owners registered in the system will receive an SMS notification 14 days before the vaccination date and must pay via the link. If residents encounter difficulties in paying via the link, they can pay at the veterinary service offices by credit card only.

Rabies Regulations - Vaccination Fee

  • Vaccination - 33.50 NIS
  • If the dog is neutered/spayed - 16.50 NIS

Regulation of Dog Supervision

  • For issuing a dog tag (microchip) - 86 NIS
  • Issuing a microchip for a cat - 81 NIS
  • License for a neutered/spayed dog, including puppies up to six months old - 43 NIS
  • License for an unneutered/unspayed dog - 394 NIS
  • Transport to the kennel - 92 NIS
  • For each day of isolation - 41.50 NIS

Vaccinations can also be administered by private veterinarians authorized to do so.