site.btaOver 108,000 Registered Dogs in Sofia and Over 300 Fines Issued to Dog Owners in 2025

More than 108,000 dogs are registered in Sofia and over 449,000 nationwide, according to data from the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency’s VetIS system as of 1 November 2025. Since the beginning of the year, inspectors in the capital have checked more than 4,000 dog owners and have issued over 300 fines for violations, the Sofia Inspectorate told BTA. The penalties were most often for walking dogs without a leash or failing to clean up after them, with each of those offenses carrying a fine of 100 leva.

Although the legal requirement for all dogs to be kept on a leash outside the home is long-standing, many owners in Sofia parks continue to disregard it, the Inspectorate said. Tipoffs submitted to the institution describe incidents involving unleashed dogs attacking children, cyclists and other pets. Aggressive dogs must also wear a muzzle, and dogs are not allowed on playgrounds or areas marked with municipal prohibition signs.

According to the Inspectorate, owners must ensure their pets are identified with a microchip, vaccinated annually against rabies, registered with a veterinarian and declared to the municipality.

Sofia currently has nearly 43 designated fenced areas where dogs may be let off leash, with some parks offering separate enclosures for large and small breeds.

As of November 14, 2025, 19,092 dogs were officially declared to Sofia Municipality, which charges an annual fee of BGN 24 leva per dog unless the animal is neutered. Owners can be fined between BGN 100 and BGN 400 for incidents involving their pets, the Inspectorate said.