ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

An Italian city is planning to levy a charge on tourists who bring their dogs on holiday with them.

The draft law stipulates that anyone who brings their dog into Bolzano - the provincial capital of South Tyrol - must pay €1.50 per animal per night for the privilege. Residents will also face an annual ownership fee of around €100.

The aim is to provide extra funds to pay for rising street-cleaning charges as well as public services linked to dog fouling. The money will cover the cost of extra waste bins, the maintenance of green spaces and the creation of designated dog areas and parks.

The proposal comes as frustration mounts among officials and residents over the impact of pets on public spaces in South Tyrol, which is a region popular with hikers and tourists. Dog-fouling in the city already incurs fines of between €200 and €600.

"This is a fair measure because it concerns dog owners exclusively," said provincial councillor Luis Walcher, "Otherwise, pavement cleaning would be the responsibility of the entire community when the only filth on our city streets is dog waste."

However, animal welfare organisations have condemned the planned tax as unfair and counterproductive, with the Italian National Animal Protection Agency warning that it could discourage people from registering or adopting dogs.

The new proposed dog tax, which is earmarked for 2026, aims to replace a controversial DNA testing scheme introduced last year seeking to identify irresponsible owners who fail to clean up after their pets through mandatory dog DNA registration.