Dog law Solothurn government abandons dog tax after resistance
In the canton of Solothurn, listed dogs are to be licensed more easily. Following opposition from various quarters, the government has decided not to introduce a cantonal dog tax. The government submitted the message for the law to parliament on Tuesday.
02.07.2024, 17:08
02.07.2024, 17:16
SDA
The responses from the consultation on the amendment to the law on the keeping of dogs (Dogs Act) and the amendment to the tariff of fees showed that a cantonal dog tax was rejected by the majority, the State Chancellery wrote in a statement.
The draft of the new dog law, on which the cantonal council will decide, has been adapted accordingly. The simplified licensing of listed dogs is to be implemented as planned, it said.
725,000 francs in uncovered costs
Until 2023, the canton of Solothurn charged a fee of CHF 40 for the annual dog tag, but this has not been issued since 2017. Because the tax court ruled that the fee - without issuing a dog license plate - no longer met the legal requirements, it was suspended for 2024.
According to the government's message, the abolition of the control sign fee would leave the canton's veterinary service with around CHF 725,000 in uncovered costs each year. This relates to animal welfare, animal health and public safety.
Those expenses that could not be charged according to the polluter-pays principle would have to be financed from general tax revenue in future, the government writes.
