Polish President Karol Nawrocki signed a law banning fur farming on December 2, 2025, while vetoing a separate bill that would have prohibited keeping dogs on chains and set minimum kennel sizes.

The fur-farming measure moves forward in a country long described as a leading fur producer, drawing celebration from animal-protection advocates even as the dog-chaining veto provoked anger within the ruling coalition. Poland has become the 24th country to ban fur farming according to the Fur Free Alliance, following this legislation, indicating a significant shift in policy in line with the growing European trend against fur production. The two decisions mark one of Nawrocki’s first major interventions since taking office in August.

Parliament had approved the fur-farming ban in October, laying the groundwork for the president’s signature in December, while lawmakers had debated and voted on the dog-chaining bill in September.

Nawrocki framed his actions as an attempt to balance competing concerns. He said, “Their voice cannot be ignored.” He also described the dog-chaining proposal as flawed, saying that “although the intention – protecting animals – is just and noble, the law itself was poorly drafted,” and that “the proposed standards for dog kennels were completely unrealistic.” The veto has raised important discussions around pet welfare, especially since approximately 49% of Polish households own dogs, which highlights the relevance of such legislation for a significant portion of the population.

The president’s veto of the dog-chaining bill prompted immediate criticism from figures aligned with the government. Adam Szłapka, a government spokesman for the ruling coalition, said: “This veto hurts the most those who cannot defend themselves. I’m speechless.” Włodzimierz Czarzasty, the speaker of parliament, reacted emotionally, telling the president: “Mr President, I feel like crying.”

Sławomir Mentzen, leader of the Confederation party, warned of economic consequences, saying: “Unfortunately, President Karol Nawrocki, under the diktat of the radical left, agreed to the destruction of another branch of Polish agriculture.” Advocates for animal protection, however, celebrated the fur ban, indicating potential alternatives such as faux fur made from plant-based materials, which can appeal to environmentally conscious consumers.

Animal-welfare groups welcomed the fur-farming ban. Humane World for Animals called the signing “an historic moment for animal protection in Poland that will end the suffering and death of millions of animals kept on fur farms.” Supporters of the fur-ban legislation have argued it represents a major shift in national policy toward farmed animals; critics of the dog-chaining bill said the draft risked unintended harms for rural residents and would be difficult to enforce. Nawrocki emphasized those enforcement and rural-livelihood concerns when explaining his veto.

The twin decisions have opened a visible split in political argument over how best to protect animals while accounting for farming communities. Parliament’s earlier votes in September and October set a legislative timetable that left the final choices to the executive after Nawrocki assumed office in August.

Advocates said the fur-farming ban will change an industry long associated with Polish agriculture and welcomed the president’s signature. At the same time, several senior politicians from the ruling coalition voiced disappointment over the dog-chaining veto, portraying the president’s intervention as a setback for measures they viewed as strengthening animal welfare standards.

Both sides signalled the debate will continue in the months ahead as lawmakers and stakeholders consider how best to implement the fur-farming law and whether revised legislation on dog tethering and kennel standards can be drafted to address the concerns Nawrocki cited. As the discourse evolves, consumers who wish to avoid purchasing fur products have numerous alternatives available, further complicating the discussion.

For additional reporting on the president’s decisions, see the coverage by Notesfrompoland, and contextual analysis from Eurogroupforanimals.

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Original reporting: view the original article.