By Dawid Karkocha | President of the Vet-Alert Foundation
2026 Progress Report: Building a Safe Home and Fighting for Better Protection and Veterinary Care for Animals in Poland
PROJECT REPORT
Throughout 2026, the Vet-Alert Foundation has continued working towards a future in which animals in Poland can receive the protection, shelter, and veterinary care they need, regardless of their circumstances or their guardians’ financial situation. Our work combines practical efforts to create a safe place for animals with long-term advocacy aimed at improving the laws and standards that affect their lives.
Continuing the Renovation of Our Future Animal Care Centre
We are continuing to renovate our premises as we work towards creating a safe home for animals in need, including those who have experienced neglect or abuse. This remains a demanding, ongoing undertaking, requiring time, resources, and determination. Every step brings us closer to our goal of providing vulnerable animals with a place where they can find safety and care.
A Significant Step Forward for Rational Vaccination Policies
One of our most important developments this year has been the progress of our national petition calling for changes to Poland’s mandatory rabies vaccination rules for dogs.
On 19 March 2026, we submitted our petition to the Polish Parliament, supported by nearly 25,000 signatures. We are calling for vaccination requirements to be aligned with current scientific evidence and the approved product information for individual vaccines, including the possibility of extending the required vaccination interval from 12 to 36 months where supported by the vaccine’s documented duration of protection. We have also proposed alternatives for dogs with medical contraindications, fairer access to vaccination, and better protection for animals that suffer adverse reactions.
Our efforts have received meaningful recognition during proceedings before the Sejm’s Petitions Committee. Members of the Committee acknowledged the substance of our concerns, and the petition was described as rationally argued. Most importantly, the Committee unanimously decided to pursue a formal parliamentary request to the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, asking the Ministry to analyse our proposals in detail.
This is an important step forward. It does not yet mean that the law has changed, but it demonstrates that our arguments have entered the parliamentary process and that our call for evidence-based, proportionate regulation is being taken seriously.
Continuing the Legal Fight for Charitable Veterinary Care
We are also continuing our legal campaign to establish that nonprofit organisations should be able to provide charitable veterinary care as part of their statutory mission, helping animals whose guardians cannot afford commercial treatment.
On 16 January 2026, Poland’s Supreme Administrative Court (NSA) overturned an earlier judgment of the Provincial Administrative Court (WSA) and returned the case for reconsideration, finding that important issues raised in the case had not been adequately addressed. Following the renewed proceedings before the WSA, cassation complaints have once again been submitted to the NSA, and we are now awaiting their consideration.
This case concerns more than the future of our own veterinary clinic. It raises a broader question: should an animal’s access to treatment depend on whether its guardian can afford commercial veterinary services, or should charitable organisations be allowed to help where the need is greatest? We remain committed to pursuing a fair and workable solution.
Working to Improve Veterinary Care Standards
Alongside these legal proceedings, we have taken up the broader issue of improving veterinary care standards in Poland. We believe that animal welfare depends not only on access to treatment, but also on responsible professional practice, transparent standards, and decisions grounded in current veterinary knowledge.
We continue to promote informed and responsible animal care, including greater awareness of the safe use of veterinary medicines and the importance of recognising and reporting suspected adverse reactions. Our long-term goal is a system that better protects animals, supports responsible guardians, and places animal health and welfare at its centre.
Thank You for Standing with Us
Progress takes persistence, and many of these challenges cannot be solved overnight. We are moving forward both with the renovation of our future animal care centre and with our efforts to improve the legal and professional framework for animal protection in Poland.
Your support helps us continue this work. Thank you for standing with the Vet-Alert Foundation and helping us build a safer future for animals.
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