The hound craze in Hamburg remains unabated post-pandemic, as indicated by a noteworthy surge in dog tax registrations. The city now boasts 63,206 dog-owning households, a 20% increase from 2019, according to data from the Senate. Consequently, the revenue from the dog tax has surged by over 25% to nearly 5.5 million euros this year.
André Trepoll, city council CDU spokesperson, pointed out that this can't be ignored when planning dog exercise zones (scant in Hamburg), and when dealing with dog control officers who are tasked with enforcing compliance with waste cleanup expectations, among other responsibilities.
Unfortunately, the greater dog population coincides with a growing problem—the proliferation of untouched canine waste on public walkways, Trepoll lamented. Policy paragraph 20 of Hamburg's dog law lays out the obligation for dog owners to clean up after their pets, with failure to comply inviting fines.
Although the police dog control service (HKD) carries out on-site checks with 110 assigned posts—predominantly at regional police stations and water police stations—there's no definitive count of fines presented. What's more, the city's free dog waste bag provision has seen a decrease—from over 36.6 million in 2021 to 31.4 million last year, and depleting further to approximately 30.1 million by December 5 of this year.
Nationwide, improperly tended dog waste remains an annoyance to pedestrians, and many believe the rising dog population in Hamburg amplifies this issue. If unchecked, this could result in an increase in foot hazards on sidewalks, cautioning city officials to address the matter promptly.
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Enrichment Insights:
- General Pet Regulations: In some areas, pet ownership might be subject to restrictions, such as exemptions in protected zones (e.g., Missouri's Lower Hamburg Bend Conservation Area).
- Waste Management: Government policies commonly provide guidelines for waste disposal, such as supplying public containers for rubbish and prohibiting unpermitted wildlife capture.
- Environmental Conservation: Regulations limiting gas and oil leases in specific regions (like New York State) showcase commitment to sustaining clean environments, which can indirectly inspire local waste management initiatives.
- Local Community Efforts: In rural areas, residents often join forces on clean-up campaigns to tackle challenges like improperly cleaned dog waste or advocate for optimal waste management plans via local government channels.
