Residents of the town of Salcea, in Suceava County (Romania), will pay a dog tax, and the payment obligation falls on everyone, including those who do not own pets.
The new tax, which is 15 lei per person (3 euros), has sparked revolt and dissatisfaction among locals, but local authorities justify the measure by the need to finance the management services for stray dogs, writes Bună ziua Iaşi.
The tax aims to support the campaign for capturing, treating, and caring for stray dogs.
The mayor of Salcea, Ezekiel Belțic, stated that the network of video surveillance cameras will be expanded with the purpose of identifying and sanctioning individuals who abandon their animals in public areas.
The City Hall has signed a contract with a private shelter responsible for capturing, treating, and caring for stray dogs. The cost of picking up a single dog amounts to 1,100 lei, covering the necessary interventions, from capture and tranquilization to medical assistance. These expenses are fully covered from the local budget.
"The problem is primarily caused by some people who, unfortunately, abandon dogs. To stop this issue, we have a strategy that we have already implemented.
We have purchased microchips from the local budget, owned dogs will be identified, and we will also carry out sterilization, which could be partially subsidized if approved by the Local Council. Thus, through this campaign, we will gradually reduce the number of stray dogs," explained the mayor.