Ordinance on the Dogs Act (HuV) - Approaches (HUV)

1. The dog owner is required to pay an annual dog tax. The tax amounts to CHF 50 for an agricultural farm dog and CHF 80 for any other dog.

2. If multiple dogs are kept in the same household, the dog tax for the second and each additional dog is CHF 160 per year.

3. For dog breeding establishments and animal shelters that have a permit for the commercial handling of animals in accordance with federal animal protection legislation, the dog tax is set at a flat rate of CHF 600 per year.

1. The submission year is identical to the calendar year.

1. No dog tax shall be levied for

a) * Service dogs employed in the army, police, or border guard corps;

abis) * Qualified tracking dogs utilized by gamekeepers and hunting supervisors designated by the canton to track down injured or wounded wildlife;

b) * Guide dogs for the disabled and the blind, for which the Federal Disability Insurance provides benefits;

bbis) * Terrain and avalanche rescue dogs with a duty commitment to Alpine Rescue Switzerland (ARS), as well as search and rescue dogs with a duty commitment to the Swiss Association for Search and Rescue Dogs (REDOG);

c) Dogs for which the dog tax for the current tax year has already been paid in another district;

d) * Dogs acquired during the tax year as a replacement for deceased dogs;

e) * Appenzeller Sennenhunde with a pedigree certificate recognized by the Swiss Kennel Club;

f) * Dogs that are less than three months old.

1. The districts are required to pay the cantonal animal disease fund an amount of CHF 5.-- annually for each taxed dog.

1. Competent Authority for the Registration of Dog Owners under the Federal Animal Epidemics Ordinance is the District.

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1. The Dog Owner Reports to the District

a) * the keeping of a dog that is more than three months old;

b) * the change of ownership;

c) * the death of the dog;

d) * the change of name or address of the dog owner;

e) * the commencement of protection training for the dog.

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1. The district conducts random checks to verify whether the entries in the dog database, which dog owners are required to make, are complete and accurate.

2. It amends incorrect entries and supplements any missing ones.

1. The District reports to the Veterinary Office

a) Dog owners who, after a warning from the district, do not fulfill their obligation to make entries or changes in the dog database;

b) Dogs that are not identified;

c) Dogs that have cropped ears or tails, or tails that are naturally shortened, without an entry in the dog database.

1. Incidents in which a dog inflicts significant injuries, especially open wounds, on humans or animals, or exhibits excessive aggressive behavior, must be reported to the district.

2. In addition to the group of individuals required to report under federal animal protection legislation, the cantonal police and the public prosecutor's office are obligated to report.

3. The district forwards the reports to the veterinary office and informs it about its measures in such incidents.

1. Decisions, penal orders, directives, and judgments of criminal authorities that are based on the cantonal dog legislation or concern its enforcement shall be communicated to the Veterinary Office.

1. In addition to the regulations set forth in the dog legislation, dog owners must particularly observe Article 5 of the Ordinance to the Alp Law dated February 12, 1996, and Article 41 of the Ordinance to the Hunting Law dated June 13, 1989, which stipulate that dogs must be kept on a leash during the alp season, and that dogs which unjustifiably pursue wildlife may be destroyed by the game warden or individuals appointed by him.

1. If a patent or license holder permits dogs in their hospitality premises, they must inform guests of this in an appropriate manner.

1. This regulation shall enter into force on January 1, 2006, following adoption by the Grand Council.