Keeping animals

There are more than 30 million pets living in households in Germany. Do you keep pets and have questions, for example about dog tax and keeping dogs? This section provides contacts at public authorities and information about keeping animals, pet taxes and legal questions, ranging from registering a dog to the protection of animals to keeping wild animals.

Services in Keeping animals

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Animal diseases
As a private or commercial livestock owner, you are obliged to report certain animal diseases. You can find a list of notifiable animal diseases on the overview page on "Animal...
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Apply for a dog tax reduction
Many local authorities offer the possibility of a reduction in dog tax payments. This is subject to certain conditions.
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Apply for a permit for dangerous dogs
Would you like to keep a dangerous dog? Then you need a permit and must meet certain requirements.
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Applying for a certificate of exemption from the marketing ban for Annex A species
The animals, plants or their products listed in Annex A of the EC Species Protection Regulation 338/97 are subject to a marketing ban. If you wish to use Annex A specimens for commercial purposes, you must apply for a certificate of exemption.
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Applying for a permit to import and export protected plant and animal species
Do you want to import or export live or dead animals and plants, or parts or products with components thereof? If these fall under the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you will need a permit.
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Certificate of submission for the application for an export permit for protected animal and plant species Issue
Specially protected animal and plant species are subject to various legal prohibitions (e.g. prohibition of possession, prohibition of access, prohibition of marketing). These...
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Check dog trainer
Would you like to train dogs professionally or train your owners in handling your dog? Then you must pass a corresponding examination.
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Commercial export of animals Official veterinary health certificate
For export to non-EU countries, animals must generally meet certain requirements of the country of destination and be accompanied by a health certificate in which compliance with...
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Dog Keeping Registration
Some federal states specify the legal framework for the registration of a dog from the state level. In Rhineland-Palatinate, however, this is regulated at the municipal level.
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Dog ownership deregistration

Deregistration of dog ownership is always necessary if you give up keeping the dog in your municipality of residence. You can obtain further information via the location search of the municipality responsible for you.
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Dog tax exemption
Exemption from dog tax is always possible if you meet the necessary requirements. You can obtain further information from your local authority.
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EU pet passport issue
For dogs, cats and ferrets traveling privately within the EU, all that is required is an EU pet passport (also known as a "pet passport") issued by a family veterinarian with...
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Exempting fighting dogs from the muzzle requirement
Would you like to have your dog exempted from the muzzle requirement? Then you will need a corresponding certificate.
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Fighting dog: Report change of owner data
If your fighting dog changes owner or you wish to move, you must report these changes to the relevant office.
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Keeping a fighting dog: Proof of expertise
Would you like to keep a fighting dog? Then you must take an examination to prove your expertise.
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Oak processionary moth
The oak processionary moth is a brown-grey butterfly that flies from the end of July to the beginning of September and is harmless to humans. However, the caterpillars of the...
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Placing an animal
Animal shelters will provide you with animals that have been taken into care. If you are interested, please contact them.
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Register dog ownership
As a dog owner, you are obliged to register your dog in your municipality of residence. The dog tax is based on the registration.
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Report free-roaming and abandoned pets
From a purely legal point of view, pets and pets found are "lost property". Thus, the municipalities are responsible as lost property authorities. These must receive found animal...
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Setting dog tax
If you keep a dog, you may have to pay a dog tax.
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Show construction of an animal enclosure
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Show extension or significant change to an animal enclosure
You must notify the lower nature conservation authority of any expansion or significant change to an animal enclosure.