From the middle of 2023, the new amendment to the Lower Austrian Dog Ownership Act will come into force.
Dog owners from Lower Austria, and especially those who want to become one, will have to observe stricter rules in the future – to be more precise, from June 2023. Keeping a maximum of five dogs per household is only permitted after training and a “dog passport” have been obtained, and liability insurance must also cover at least 725,000 euros per dog. “today” phoned the press office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Council.
From June 01, 2023
The following changes for dog ownership will become mandatory on June 1st, 2023:
1.Lower Austrian dog passport
If you would like to adopt a dog in Lower Austria in the future, every potential owner is required to ask the responsible municipal office BEFORE buying it which veterinarian will conduct a one-hour interview and which specialist (this can be an expert in dog training etc.) will conduct a two-hour examination can decrease. These people were authorized by the respective municipality to approve and issue the so-called Lower Austria dog passport. If you don’t complete these theory lessons, keeping dogs is prohibited in Lower Austria!
For dogs that are already owned in 2023, however, you do not have to take a test afterwards. The dog passport is valid per person/household and not per dog. In other words, even if you look after a multi-dog household, only one passport is required, similar to a driver’s license.
2.multi-dog household
In order to keep an eye on animal welfare and to avoid so-called “animal hording”, Lower Austria sets an upper limit for dog ownership. A maximum of five dogs are allowed in one household. Exceptions such as breeders or people who train working dogs are a matter of course. In principle, the decision on an exception rule is also the responsibility of the responsible municipal office. Dogs that were kept before 2023 are of course exempt from this rule.
3.liability insurance
Most insurance companies reacted some time ago and adjusted and raised the standard rates for liability insurance for a dog. From June 2023, liability insurance per dog must be taken out with a minimum insured sum of 725,000 euros.
