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It should really go without saying that you should clean up after your dog when it does its business. We’ve researched what the law says about this for you.
Cleaning up dog waste is a dog owner’s legal obligation
Legally speaking, dog waste is considered trash. At least that’s what the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court ruled in March 1991 (Case No. Ss 300/900 – 128/90).
- Leaving trash in public places constitutes an administrative offense.
- You can expect a fine if you don’t open the dog waste bag and pick up the dog waste.
- The amount of the fine varies from state to state. Fines ranging from 10 to 150 euros are possible.
- In some cases, you may even be committing a criminal offense if you fail to pick up your dog’s waste. This is the case if the waste poses a risk of infection.
- If your dog has parasites such as worms or an infectious disease and you do not remove the waste, you will not just be fined—you may even face a criminal penalty.
- You may even face a prison sentence. This is the case if your dog has defecated in a sensitive area, such as a children’s playground, and the waste poses a health hazard.
