Cities and municipalities in Germany have hit a new record for income collected through dog tax. The new record comes as many Germans have spent almost a year in lockdown, and demand for dogs has skyrocketed across the country. 

331 million euros from dog tax alone

The first three quarters of 2020 saw 331 million euros collected in dog taxes, which is an increase of 2,5 percent when compared with the same period in the previous year.

Income collected from the dog tax has been on the up for several consecutive years now; back in 2009, dog taxes totalled a significantly lower 249 million euros.

What is the dog tax?

The dog tax is a levy placed on residents of Germany by municipal tax offices, often calculated on the basis of the breed and number of dogs that residents have. The tax is intended to discourage people from owning too many dogs, as well as funding dog-related services like waste bins and street cleaning. 

As the pandemic has lingered on, many more people in Germany have been seeking pets to help them through this tough time. Animal rights organisations have however expressed concern that, as restrictions are lifted, many animals could end up in shelters.