Karolina S. (46) with her dog Geraldo: “We’ve had our dog for a year now. I haven’t heard anything about the new register. We have also registered our dog with Tasso and pay the dog tax as normal.” Photo: Olaf Selchow
By Stefan Peter and Julian Loevenich
The Senate wanted to put Berlin’s dog owners on a short leash – but most owners resisted. The dog register introduced by Red-Green-Red has so far been a flop!
Since January 1st, all dog owners have had to register their four-legged friends in a central register. If you do it yourself online, you pay 17.50 euros per dog. It costs 26.50 euros per dog by form or telephone. This is obviously too much or too cumbersome for many Berliners.
A parliamentary question from the FDP parliamentary group results in: As of September 30, a total of 46,674 dogs were registered in the register – but as of the reporting date, 128,852 dogs were registered for tax purposes in the capital. So only about every third dog is included in the red-green-red woof register!
Frank Kretschmar (67) with the Karamel hybrid: “I have already registered my dog. I don’t want to get in trouble about it. But to be honest: That’s double-mobbled again. What is that supposed to help?” Photo: Olaf Selchow
The Senate has so far received 837,594 euros from the registration fees. However, he also has to pay the register’s technical service provider (GovConnect GmbH in Hanover) from this. “The income will go up in smoke,” predicts FDP MP Holger Krestel (66).
The Liberals reject the dog register anyway. “A bureaucracy monster,” says Krestel. “The animal lovers have no recognizable added value. All dog owners have already been able to register their beloved four-legged friend via Tasso or Findefix, so that lost animals can be brought back home – and it’s completely free of charge.”
Anna K. (52) with her dog Lalli: “Register? I haven’t heard anything about that yet. But I don’t understand why it’s needed now. We already have Tasso, it works well throughout Germany. It’s all doubly doubled. I think they’re just trying to make money somehow.” Photo: Olaf Selchow
According to the FDP politician, the Senate is acting in a cumbersome, bureaucratic manner and not in the interests of the people of Berlin. “The dog register was wrong, is wrong and should be abolished.”
So far nobody has to be afraid of the sharp teeth of the law anyway… Apparently the Senate barks when it comes to dog registration, but doesn’t bite. “As of September 30, 2022, no dog owners have been prosecuted for not registering,” said State Secretary Markus Kamrad (51, Greens).