German Animal Welfare Federation calls for support for animal shelters

Dog tax record, animal shelters at the limit

In light of the steadily rising revenue from the dog tax, the German Animal Welfare Federation is renewing its call for greater support for animal shelters.

Across Germany, municipal revenue from the dog tax exceeded the 400-million-euro threshold for the first time in 2021. According to recent media reports, payments in North Rhine-Westphalia alone reached a new record of 104.6 million euros in the first nine months of 2022.

«While animal shelters are collapsing under the growing cost burden, many municipalities are reporting record revenues from the dog tax. Anger within the charitable animal welfare sector over the political indifference of many municipalities is growing. The situation facing animal shelters is critical — additional help is urgently needed,» commented Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation. «If half of the municipal revenue from the dog tax were to flow into a dedicated fund for animal shelters on a one-off basis, and the federal government were to match that amount, it would make a tremendous difference for animal shelters.»

Taxes are not earmarked and flow into the general municipal budget. «This means that dog owners’ contributions also help fund, for example, the renovation of official offices or the official cars of mayors,» said Schröder. Meanwhile, animal shelters are frequently told by municipalities that there is not enough money available. «In light of the record revenues from the dog tax, it can no longer be acceptable for animal shelters to effectively subsidise municipalities out of donated funds.»

Municipalities benefit from the pet boom

From the perspective of the German Animal Welfare Federation, towns and municipalities are the silent winners of the pandemic-driven pet boom of the past two years, during which many people acquired dogs and other animals recently acquired, often spontaneously and without much thought. Meanwhile, charitable animal welfare organizations have had to shoulder the consequences of what is often a misguided love of animals: animal shelters have been and continue to be inundated with ever more animals, and ever more dogs requiring intensive care.

You can help all animals and our planet with compassion. Choose empathy on your plate and in your glass. Go vegan.