Ordinance on Dogs (HuV) - Jurisdictions (HUV)

1. Competent Cantonal Authority

The competent cantonal authority within the meaning of the law and this ordinance is the Veterinary Office. It executes the cantonal duties, unless there are differing regulations.

2. The Department of Health and Social Affairs may conclude performance agreements to financially support campaigns and other measures under Article 5 of the law.

1. The Veterinary Office is the cantonal reporting authority for incidents pursuant to Art. 78 para. 1 of the Federal Animal Protection Ordinance.

2. The reporting obligation according to Art. 78 para. 1 of the Animal Protection Ordinance (TSchV) also applies to the Cantonal Police, the Public Prosecutor's Office, and the enforcement agencies of the municipalities.

3. The following must be reported

a) Incidents where a dog has significantly injured people or animals;

b) Incidents where a dog exhibits excessive aggressive behavior;

c) Incidents involving behaviorally problematic dogs that have resulted in measures or criminal charges;

d) All instances of dog ownership where other behavioral abnormalities of a dog have occurred;

e) All owners for whom safe and responsible dog ownership is questionable.

1. The Veterinary Office has access to the following data from the residents' register in electronic form

a) Surname;

b) First name;

c) Date of birth;

d) Gender;

e) Address;

f) Municipality of residence (domicile and residence).

2. The competent municipal authority shall inform residents of the relevant regulations in dog ownership in accordance with the instructions of the Department of Health and Social Affairs.

1. The Veterinary Office may report measures ordered under Art. 15 of the Act to the Cantonal Police and the municipality of residence of the holder.

2. The Veterinary Office is entitled to inform the competent authorities of other cantons of its orders.

1. The obligations of keeping and leashing according to Articles 6 and 8 of the law apply to herd protection dogs and service dogs on duty only insofar as the purpose of the deployment permits. Public safety must be ensured.

1. The Minimum Coverage Amount of Liability Insurance for Dog Owners Pursuant to Article 11 of the Act is Five Million Swiss Francs.

1. Only dogs that are largely independent in the guarding of livestock and related warding off of foreign animals are considered herd protection dogs under Art. 12 of the law.

2. The owners report to the affected municipalities

a) the deployed dog (chip number);

b) the address, telephone number, and email address of the owner;

c) the type of livestock involved (TVD number);

d) the deployment location;

e) the planned duration of deployment;

f) the planned information measures.

3. The municipality ensures that the information obligation under Art. 12 Para. 2 of the law is complied with.

4. The Department of Health and Social Affairs can issue professional instructions on the information obligation according to Art. 12 Para. 2 of the law.

1. The Department of Health and Social Affairs designates the reporting and registration office in accordance with the Federal Animal Epidemics Ordinance for dogs kept in the Canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden.

2. Police authorities, as well as veterinarians, have free access to the data of the reporting and registration office mentioned in paragraph 1.

1. The basic dog tax is CHF 120 per calendar year. If a dog is not kept for the entire calendar year, the dog tax is owed proportionately.

2. ...

3. The tax claim expires if it is not asserted within one year after the end of the tax period. The collection of supplementary taxes remains reserved.

4. Overpaid taxes will be refunded. The right to a refund expires if it is not asserted within 30 days after the elimination of tax liability. No refund will be issued upon moving out of the canton.

5. Tax amounts of less than CHF 10 are neither collected nor refunded.

1. Exemption from Dog Tax

Dogs are exempt from the dog tax if they are demonstrably employed as utility dogs during the tax period. The following qualify as utility dogs

a) * Search and rescue dogs from REDOG;

b) * Avalanche and terrain search dogs of the Alpine Rescue Switzerland (ARS);

c) * Assistance dogs;

d) * ...

e) Tracking dogs;

f) Service dogs used in the military, border guard corps, or police;

g) Herd protection dogs.

2. ...

3. The proof for tax exemption must be submitted to the veterinary office along with the notification pursuant to Article 14 of the law. In the following years, the proof must be renewed unsolicited by January 31 at the latest. If the proof is not provided on time, the right to tax exemption for the relevant tax period is forfeited.

4. The following documents are considered proof

a) * Search and rescue dogs from REDOG: annual certificate from REDOG regarding the dog's operational capability and readiness;

abis) * Avalanche and terrain search dogs of the Alpine Rescue Switzerland (ARS): annual certificate from ARS regarding the dog's operational capability and readiness;

b) * Assistance dogs: valid medical prescription and proof that the training center is certified by the organization Assistance Dogs International (ADI);

c) * ...

d) Tracking dogs: proof of having passed a tracking test on the 1000 m track according to the regulations of the Working Group for Hunting Dogs (AGJ) of the Swiss Cynological Society (SKG) and proof of entry in the current directory of tracking dog handlers of the Patent Hunter Association Appenzell Ausserrhoden;

e) * Service dogs used in the military, border guard corps, or police: annual certification from the operational organization regarding the dog's operational capability and readiness;

f) * Herd protection dogs: annual certification as a herd protection dog recognized by the federal government or canton;

g) Dogs according to Art. 20 para. 1 lit. b of the law: proof of the fee already paid;

h) Dogs according to Art. 20 para. 1 lit. c of the law: confirmation of residence.

1. A back tax is levied when ordinary taxation has not been applied due to a violation of the duty to report.

2. The basic back tax amounts to CHF 180 per dog and calendar year. If an owner keeps more than one dog, the double back tax is levied for each additional dog.

3. The right to claim back tax expires if it is not asserted within five years after the end of the tax period.