In our neighbors across the Rhine, dog owners must pay an annual tax, the amount of which varies depending on the location, the number of animals and the breed. Explanations.
Having a pet can be expensive. While adoption only requires a few hundred dollars, purchasing a baby dog can raise the price to more than $1,000, depending on the breed. To this must be added the cost of visits to the veterinarian, and health insurance if you decide to take one.
But consider yourself lucky because in Germany, dog owners must pay a tax every year.
Dog tax: cHow much does the “dog tax” cost?
German masters and mistresses usually have to pay several hundred euros for la “dog tax”. Price varies depending on the locality, number of animals and breed. According to Southwestthe slice is included between 72 and 600 eurosaccording to these different criteria.
For breeds considered dangerous, the tax may increase up to 1,000 euros per year. Only owners of guide dogs, rescue dogs or shepherds are paid this tax. The same goes for unemployed or low-income people.
This tax makes it possible to earn money for the state through the municipalities. In 2023, 421 million euros have been collected for the public domain. It only applies to dogsand not to other pets, even if there are a tax on horses in some German cities.
What other countries impose a “Pet Tax”?
Germany is not the only country to offer a “Pet Tax”. Switzerland also asks dog owners to donate a little money to the State. As with their neighbor, the price of the tax varies depending on the location, and more precisely, according to the cantons and municipalities. In 2019, a dog in Uster cost 200 CHF per year in taxes (212 euros), and only 70 CHF (74 euros) in Liestal or Bellinzona. The following year, the Swiss state was able to harvest 60 million euros.
Tax on dogs: Could France get started?
In France, a similar tax existed until 1971. Created under the regime of Napoleon III, it only cost 1 or 2 francs and depended on the size of the dog.
The idea is circulating againat least on social networks. It must be said that she could bring 990 million euros to the French stateif we base ourselves on Swiss tax. A nice sum that could pay off part of the country’s debt. But animal protection associations are not all for it, fearing an increase in abandonments from owners who do not wish to pay additional money for their animal.
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