Major tourist destination will charge $2 a day to take your dog
Supporters say the tax is long overdue
A major tourist destination is adding a unique charge for visitors.
While some services like airlines go out of their way to pamper travelling pets, certain cities are taking a different approach.
Now, authorities in Bolzano, Italy are proposing a tax on tourist dogs, which supporters claim is long overdue.
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Under the proposed bill, owners would be charged €1.50 ($1.75) per day to bring their dogs to the picturesque city, according to the Guardian.
The measure could take effect in 2026 and would require locals to fork out over 100 Euros ($117.04) annually, the New York Times reported.
If the policy is approved, part of the revenue would go toward cleaning up the city's streets, which are allegedly riddled with a 'serious problem' of dog waste, said Provincial Councillor Luis Walcher, who introduced the measure.
The funds would also help create new parks designed exclusively for dog owners and their pets.
This pet tourist tax follows another controversial dog-related policy that requires dogs to undergo DNA testing to identify the source of any waste left on the streets.
However, Walcher has stated that owners who are already registered for DNA testing will be exempt from the pet tax for a period of two years.
He argues the measure is fair because it exclusively targets dog owners.
“Otherwise, sidewalk cleaning would be the responsibility of the entire community, when it must be said that the only filth on our city streets is dog waste,” Walcher claimed.
Many Redditors also agree with the new measure, pointing out that streets have become littered with dog waste due to what they see as irresponsible pet ownership.
“People with dogs have gotten way too entitled and think that they can take them anywhere they please and not clean up after them or be responsible in any way,” one user ranted. “Most cemeteries around me have banned dogs because their owners just refuse to clean up after them and expect the grounds crew to do it or something.”
They added: “Most state and national parks have rules about what trails dogs can go on and they have to be on a leash, but owners just ignore signs.”
Another commented: “Who gives a s*** about 1.50 per day? I don't see the problem here at all, pay the tax. SO many people don't clean up after their dogs, 1.50 is honestly low. Sincerely, a dog owner that brings my dog on every vacation."
“I see nothing wrong, sidewalk cleaning for pedestrians needs funding,” declared another critic, comparing it to landlord pet fees as well as annual vaccinations and registration fees. “I don’t see how $2 a day is a bad price to pay for a limited number of tourists bringing in dogs. If 100 tourists bring 100 dogs for a day that’s $200 paid to a worker for the cleaning labor, which sounds fair.”