Overview

• The bill proposes a €1.50 nightly charge for visiting dogs and roughly €100 per year for resident owners, with a 2026 start if the provincial council approves.
• Officials say revenue would fund more street cleaning and create dog parks, addressing a shortage of dedicated spaces.
• The plan would replace a low‑compliance DNA scheme that required a €65 swab to identify fouling, and authorities may raise existing €200–€600 fines.
• Dogs already in the DNA registry would receive a two‑year exemption from the new charges, according to local reports.
• Animal‑rights groups condemn the proposal and threaten civil disobedience, while Bolzano’s mayor warns it could tarnish the area’s dog‑friendly reputation.