By Sabine Klier
More and more four-legged friends are walking the streets of Berlin: from 105,836 five years ago, their number has already risen to 123,915 – 18,000 more in 2021.
The revenue from the dog tax flushed 13.59 million euros into the Senate coffers last year. Berlin is a real woof capital. In addition to the dog tax, owners now have to dig into their pockets again.
Because since January 1st, all four-legged friends are to be recorded in the central dog register. And the owners have to do it themselves: online for 17.50 euros, by telephone or by letter for 26.50 euros.
You have until July 1st to do so. Otherwise it gets really expensive. Failure to register is an administrative offense under the Dogs Act and can be punished with a fine of up to 10,000 euros!
“With regard to the dog problem, the rabies regulation and the park and green space law also apply in addition to the dog law,” says Sara Lühman, spokeswoman for the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office. “For the administrative offenses that arise, there is only the framework of fines that the law stipulates. Since each case is a case-by-case decision, there are also different fines.”
Niko Porrey (32), engineer from Wedding with mixed breed dog Pepper (2): “I haven’t registered Pepper yet. That only causes unreasonable extra costs”
It looks like this in the districts: Violating the leash obligation costs between 25 euros (Pankow), 35 euros (Lichtenberg) or 75 euros (Steglitz-Zehlendorf). If you forget your muzzle in Reinickendorf, you even pay 250 euros.
But why the new register? So far, the individual dog breeds in Berlin have not been recorded. The most important question here is how many potentially dangerous four-legged friends there are. The register should clarify that.
American Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers and Bull Terriers are considered dangerous. Crossbreeds are also considered so-called fighting dogs.
Kimberley (31), Sales Manager from Charlottenburg with Lila (13): “I registered Lila online back in January. I believe that it protects against the propagation of illegal breeds”
On BZ request, the office confirmed in Mitte nine and Tempelhof-Schoeneberg 133 registered dogs. In Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf a total of 294 and in Lichtenberg even 663 are reported.
The Treptow-Köpenick district is the leader with around 750 list dogs.
