Are dogs allowed in Berlin authorities?

From Hildburg Bruns

To do this, the Senate must develop a concept for district and Senate administrations as well as state-owned companies. And a positive list of buildings should be drawn up in which landlords allow it.

Dogs under the desk are rather the exception in Berlin authorities: an action day in Köpenick (4 participants) and a canceled pilot project in Zehlendorf. In Spandau, the staff council has been blocked for a year. Only in Marzahn-Hellersdorf (25 participants) was a service agreement negotiated after consistently positive experiences.

“The beneficiaries are not only the employees of the Berlin administration, but also their colleagues. I very much hope that the employees of the Berlin administration will soon be able to enjoy these advantages and that they will not be prevented from doing so because of misgivings. Let’s dare more dogs!” Demands MP Tommy Tabor (41, AfD).

In a parliamentary question that BZ has received, the Senate Chancellery lists what speaks against it:

► Animal hair allergies among colleagues

► Fears and antipathies towards dogs

► Disturbances in the workflow (loud barking, rampaging animals, lack of obedience)

► hygienic aspects (hair, smell)

► Animal welfare (no outlet)

No space is currently seen in the Tempelhof-Schoeneberg district. There are many unanswered questions: are public areas excluded? Can the public also take dogs with them? Is there a debate about envy when only a few employees get the green light? How many dogs are allowed in the office? What about other pets?

Would Berlin’s governor Kai Wegner (50, CDU) bring his golden retriever to the Red City Hall? “My Casper feels very comfortable at our home. In addition, I would not have time between appointments to take care of him as intensively as I do every morning on my walk.”

Nevertheless, the ruler considers the pilot projects to be a good thing. Wegner: “We should evaluate them thoroughly and see whether and how we can expand the current rules.”

Three examples of how things are going in the Marzahn district office:

► District Mayor Nadja Zivkovic (44, CDU) grew up with dogs. For them they are movement and contact persons. If it fits the schedule, she takes her nine (3) to the office on Fridays, otherwise the dog is with the dog sitter. The politician: “Nine promotes communication. Everyone has an opinion, many come by to pet them, you learn a lot.”

► Alina von Wensierski (38)secretary to the mayor, is very happy that she can take her Maggie (2) with her two days a week. The prerequisite was: housebroken, insured, vaccinated. Colleagues were interviewed two weeks beforehand and there is a contact person for them. The secretary cleans her office herself once a week.

► Stefanie Jurk (42), clerk at the registry office, has her animal protection dog Miss Smilla (3), who comes from Turkey. “My dog ​​is like a child. If I can keep an eye on him, it makes my work easier and I can concentrate better. My colleagues like to come to my office and sometimes take over the walkies during the lunch break.”