Tourists travelling with canines to South Tyrol will soon face a new dog tax, provoking strong criticism from animal rights organisations and opposition parties.
From 2026, visitors will be charged €1.50 per day per dog, while residents will have to pay an annual fee of about €100 per dog. The provincial government of Bolzano says the measure will finance public hygiene, dog parks, and the cleaning of public spaces.
The plan comes after the abandonment of a controversial DNA registration scheme, which was deemed impractical. Fines of between €200 and €600 for failing to clean up after dogs will continue to apply.
Animal rights groups have reacted angrily. The Italian Association for the Defence of Animals and the Environment (AIDAA) called the measure “pure madness,” stressing that no other Italian region taxes pet ownership. The group has threatened civil disobedience if the law is approved.
The National Animal Protection Agency (ENPA) also condemned the tax, saying it risks discouraging people from travelling with their pets and wrongly treats animals as “cash machines” for local government. ENPA urged the province to focus instead on civic education and stricter enforcement of existing rules.
Political opposition has also surfaced. Critics argue the measure is poorly conceived. One politician sarcastically suggested, “Allora facciamo pagare anche le mucche” (then cows should pay too) if the logic is applied consistently.
The provincial government is expected to continue discussions on the proposed dog tax in the coming months.
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