24 September 2004

BERLIN - Berlin's city assembly approved Thursday a tough new law for dog owners in the German capital, which imposes additional restrictions on leads and requires chips to be implanted in the animal.

The aim of the chip is to help identify the animal's owner and to ensure that it cannot simply be abandoned.

Current dog owners have until 2010 to make arrangements for the chip which is to be implanted by a veterinary surgeon at a cost of between EUR 30 and EUR 40. All newly registered dogs are to have the chip implanted by next year.

At the same time, the new law requires dog owners to arrange personal liability insurance cover.

The owners of newly registered dogs should make arrangements for liability insurance by next year. Existing owners will have until 2010 to sign up for insurance cover, which officials say will cost between EUR 80 and EUR 180 a year.

About 70 percent of dogs are at present covered by insurance with officials claiming that the new rules will provide greater protection for those who fall victim of an unpleasant dog experience in the city.

All German cities have various restrictions on the use of leads when taking dogs in public places.

But the new Berlin law sets out new special responsibilities for dog owners.

In the future in the German capital, the lead can be two metres long if the dog is in open areas such as in parks, forests or sports grounds.

However, when the dog is in more crowded areas such as railway stations, department stores, public transport, demonstrations, sporting events, camping sites, festivals, offices, lifts and public stairways, the dog will have to be a one-metre lead.

The new law also reinforces strict rules on so-called fighting dogs with the owners of 10 particular breeds, including bull terriers, Mastino Napoletano, Dogo Argentino and American Staffordshire terriers. This will require the dogs to wear a muzzle outside the home and in general to be on a lead.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]

Subject: German news