https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Dogs are part of everyday life in Germany – but the rules around leashes, noise and shared spaces can be surprisingly strict. Whether you own a dog or not, here’s how the law shapes what you see when you’re out and about. https://www.thelocal.de/20260410/when-and-where-do-dogs-have-to-be-on-a-leash-in-germany Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:01:16 +0200 when-and-where-do-dogs-have-to-be-on-a-leash-in-germany Germany has a reputation for being a very pet-friendly country with some of the world's strictest animal welfare laws. But what about when it comes to moving your four-legged friend over here from abroad? https://www.thelocal.de/20250811/explained-how-to-move-to-germany-with-your-pets Mon, 11 Aug 2025 16:32:51 +0200 explained-how-to-move-to-germany-with-your-pets The number of dog owners in Germany soared last year as people spent more time at home during the partial lockdowns. https://www.thelocal.de/20210122/dog-days-germany-sees-extreme-demand-for-pups-during-pandemic Fri, 22 Jan 2021 10:43:37 +0100 dog-days-germany-sees-extreme-demand-for-pups-during-pandemic The rules for travellers bringing pets from the UK into the EU will change in January but the decision to grant the UK 'listed status' means things won't be as complicated as they might have been. Here's what we know so far about the new rules. https://www.thelocal.de/20201214/update-new-rules-on-pet-travel-as-uk-granted-listed-status-by-eu Mon, 14 Dec 2020 10:16:16 +0100 update-new-rules-on-pet-travel-as-uk-granted-listed-status-by-eu A proposal by Germany’s agriculture ministry to make going walkies twice a day compulsory for all dog owners has caught the attention of dog owners well beyond the borders of Germany. But what does the law mean for you? https://www.thelocal.de/20200820/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-planned-dog-walking-law Thu, 20 Aug 2020 12:49:51 +0200 what-you-need-to-know-about-the-planned-dog-walking-law Pet owners wanting to travel between Germany and Britain after Brexit are being warned of a possible four-month registration process before pets are allowed to travel. https://www.thelocal.de/20190906/pet-owners-warned-of-four-month-wait-for-travel-between-spain-and-uk-after-brexit-2 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 13:11:01 +0200 pet-owners-warned-of-four-month-wait-for-travel-between-spain-and-uk-after-brexit-2 Whether you're bringing your furry friend from abroad or planning to adopt one, here are some key things you should know about having pets in Germany. https://www.thelocal.de/20171123/everything-you-need-to-know-about-having-a-pet-in-germany Thu, 23 Nov 2017 12:47:35 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-about-having-a-pet-in-germany The loss of a beloved pet hits many people in Germany hard - as a result a growing number of pet burials are taking place at special graveyards throughout the country. https://www.thelocal.de/20190225/in-focus-pet-cemeteries-on-the-rise-in-germany Mon, 25 Feb 2019 10:18:49 +0100 in-focus-pet-cemeteries-on-the-rise-in-germany Fatal dog attacks seem to have barely been out of the headlines in Germany this year. As a trial starts over the death of a pensioner at the teeth of an aggressive canine, is it time for Germany to reassess its dog laws? https://www.thelocal.de/20180530/does-germany-have-a-problem-with-aggressive-attack-dogs Wed, 30 May 2018 19:15:39 +0200 does-germany-have-a-problem-with-aggressive-attack-dogs A seven-month-old boy died late Monday night after he was attacked by the family's dog in the town of Bad König in Hesse. https://www.thelocal.de/20180410/family-dog-bites-infant-to-death-in-hessen Tue, 10 Apr 2018 13:09:43 +0200 family-dog-bites-infant-to-death-in-hessen A 52-year-old woman and her 27-year-old son have been found dead at their home in northern Germany after apparently being mauled by their Staffordshire terrier, police said Wednesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20180404/mother-and-son-found-dead-at-home-after-being-mauled-by-dog Wed, 04 Apr 2018 13:25:28 +0200 mother-and-son-found-dead-at-home-after-being-mauled-by-dog After the opening of the €2.5 million facility in southern Germany, animal burial experts have called for pet owners to have the chance to be buried alongside their beloved pets. https://www.thelocal.de/20171204/candles-and-music-germanys-first-horse-crematorium-to-give-equines-worth-farewell Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:21:02 +0100 candles-and-music-germanys-first-horse-crematorium-to-give-equines-worth-farewell Germany is one of the few European countries left which levies a tax on pooches. In Berlin, district coffers were enriched by more than €11 million through the ‘dog tax’ last year. https://www.thelocal.de/20171102/why-did-berlin-dog-owners-pay-over-11-million-in-dog-tax-last-year Thu, 02 Nov 2017 16:58:00 +0100 why-did-berlin-dog-owners-pay-over-11-million-in-dog-tax-last-year Police in Bavaria busted a driver illegally transporting numerous puppies in poor condition for sale. Now the tiny pooches are all in the care of a Nuremberg shelter. https://www.thelocal.de/20170508/dog-shelter-overrun-by-cuteness-as-police-bust-leaves-dozens-of-puppies-in-care Mon, 08 May 2017 15:52:09 +0200 dog-shelter-overrun-by-cuteness-as-police-bust-leaves-dozens-of-puppies-in-care Identifying as either a 'cat person' or a 'dog person' supposedly reveals a lot about your personality, but in Germany there's a legal difference between pet owners. Dog-owners are taxed for their pet, while cat-owners currently aren't - though some say that should change. https://www.thelocal.de/20170126/should-germans-have-to-pay-tax-on-pet-cats Thu, 26 Jan 2017 16:09:03 +0100 should-germans-have-to-pay-tax-on-pet-cats A divorcing couple were fighting over how to separate their various dogs. But now a Nuremberg court has weighed in on the interest of the pooches. https://www.thelocal.de/20170118/court-rules-couples-dogs-must-stay-together-after-divorce Wed, 18 Jan 2017 12:54:30 +0100 court-rules-couples-dogs-must-stay-together-after-divorce Almost ten years ago “Nico” disappeared without trace. His owners had long since given up hope of ever seeing him again. But then, just as mysteriously, he suddenly reappeared. https://www.thelocal.de/20151218/tomcat-missing-for-ten-years-finally-makes-it-home Fri, 18 Dec 2015 11:48:18 +0100 tomcat-missing-for-ten-years-finally-makes-it-home Rabbit breeding: it's not exactly a typical hobby for a ten-year-old. But for Tim Behringer, it's a way of life - and last month, the young Bavarian received an international award for his hard work. https://www.thelocal.de/20151215/bavarian-youngster-is-europe-rabbit-breeding-champ Tue, 15 Dec 2015 16:20:22 +0100 bavarian-youngster-is-europe-rabbit-breeding-champ The first two cemeteries allowing pet lovers to be buried with their furry friends are opening in Germany this week. https://www.thelocal.de/20150609/new-cemeteries-to-allow-burial-with-pets Tue, 09 Jun 2015 14:51:20 +0200 new-cemeteries-to-allow-burial-with-pets Hospital wards are normally off-limits for dogs - rules on hygiene forbid them from visiting sick owners. But one hospital in Lower Saxony is encouraging a rather different attitude. https://www.thelocal.de/20150309/a-paws-for-relief-gttingen-hospital-welcomes-in-dogs Mon, 09 Mar 2015 15:55:38 +0100 a-paws-for-relief-gttingen-hospital-welcomes-in-dogs