Overview

• The Federal Statistical Office reported that municipalities collected about €430 million from the dog tax in 2024, a 2.2% increase from €421 million in 2023.
• Over the past decade, receipts have climbed 39.3% from roughly €309 million in 2014, marking a steady upward trend.
• Dog and cat food prices rose 2.3% in 2024 and are 35.3% higher than in 2020, compared with 2.2% and 19.3% for overall consumer prices.
• Dog tax levels are set by each municipality and often vary by number of animals or breed, so rising revenue does not necessarily indicate more dogs.
• Destatis assigns a 4.20 per mille weight to the dog‑ and cat‑food category in the CPI, and regional rules on tax exemptions and pet liability insurance differ.