A dog in (still) full regalia. The current dog tag has a saying for the first time since 2016 (“I keep my city clean”). The validity, which had actually already expired, was extended last year until the end of 2023 Photo: Ines Meier – stock.adobe.com/picture alliance / Wolfram Stein
From Hildburg Bruns
A collar without a pendant will become fashionable for Berlin four-legged friends from 2024. Because capital city dogs no longer have to wear an aluminum tax stamp (3×4 cm) and can go for a walk topless.
According to BZ information, the Berlin Senate decided to change the dog law on Tuesday. Reason: Berlin introduced a central, state dog register almost two years ago. In the future, registration there will also serve as a dog tax declaration or de-registration at the tax office, for example in the event of death. The data may be transmitted.
Actually a good thing that saves owners double work. And the tax offices no longer have to purchase and issue new dog tags every five years (saves 25,000 euros).
But the new regulation could lead to more black dog walkers, at least for newly acquired animals! Because so far there has been great resistance to the new state-run, fee-based register (17.50 euros online/26.50 by telephone).
► 131,505 dogs are currently registered with the Berlin tax offices. Their owners pay 120 euros a year (for each additional 180).
► However, only 57,468 dogs were registered by their owners in the central register, i.e. less than half. The 12-digit number of the microchip under the dog’s skin must be specified – these transponders have been mandatory for more than ten years.
How will public order offices monitor tax liability in the future without requiring tax stamps? You just read out the chip number. In the current year, 465 dogs were registered without a tag – 187 of which were actually not registered for tax purposes and were therefore illegal walkers.