March 07, 2020

It's Tax Season (for Dog Owners)


It's Tax Season (for Dog Owners)
It's tax time--for dog owners. Image by Andrey via Wikipedia

The mayor of Yakutsk, Sardana Avksentieva, recently announced that a tax for dog owners is being discussed. This tax would help compensate the city for what it spends on stray animals.

Mayor Avksentieva noted that it costs around 14,500 rubles (approximately $220) to process just one stray dog, including catching the dog, sterilizing and vaccinating it, and installing a microchip. According to Avksentieva, this is more than what is spent on children’s subsidies: “People don’t understand why more money is being spent on dogs than on food for children,” Avksentieva stated.

In January, a new federal law on animals went into force. The law outlines the state’s responsibility to the people in terms of stray animal care, but does not mention pet owners’ responsibilities for maintaining their animals.

According to the administration’s calculations, it would cost about R190 million ($2.8 million) per year to control the stray animal population. Unfortunately, only R7.4 million ($112,100) has been budgeted, which is where a tax on dog owners would help fill the gap. Funds from the tax would go towards maintaining shelters for stray animals. Avksentieva noted that this is a common practice in many countries.

Tags: yakutsktaxes
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955