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Munich is the most dog-friendly major city in Germany. This is the outcome of a study carried out by specialty chain Fressnapf, which awarded the honour this year for the second time. In second place, Hamburg is close on the paws of the Bavarian metropolis, followed in third place by Mönchengladbach in North Rhine-Westphalia. The “Goldene Fressnapf”, or Golden Dog Bowl, is awarded annually to cities that show the greatest commitment to dog owners and their four-legged friends. To that end, Fressnapf has examined 40 cities with a population over 200,000 in eight rating categories. In addition, Fressnapf customers and dog owners were called upon to rate the dog-friendliness of their city via the Internet.

Leashes off in the dachshund city
“I would have been sad if Munich had not won this prize”, said Munich’s lord mayor, Christian Ude. “After all, Munich is not only the City of Lions, but also the City of the Dachshund. This is where the prize belongs, not least in honour of the little dachshund, of which there are unfortunately ever fewer in Munich.” Munich earns first place on the podium of the most dog-friendly cities above all because of the liberal interpretation of the rules on keeping dogs on a leash. There is no general leash requirement anywhere in the city. Lots of freedom for people and pets to run free – that denotes the dog-friendliness of a major German city. With over 300 dog mess bag dispensers in the city, Munich has its snout in front when compared with other cities – and shows pragmatically how the problem with animal left-behinds and “land mines” can be got under control.

Good value: Dog licence fee and dogs on buses and trams
The level of the dog licence fee, in other cities often the greatest bane of all dog owners, is also worth a look in Munich: at the point in time of the Fressnapf study it amounted to 77 euros and was thus very low when compared with other cities. As of the New Year 2011, though, the City of Munich has increased the dog licence fee to 100 euros a year, but with that still remains well below the average of the cities compared: Cologne, for example, charges 156 euros in dog licence fees for the first dog. Another plus for Munich: Dogs can be carried on buses and trams free of charge. Costs of 1.20 euros per journey are charged only for the second and further dogs. The picture of Germany’s most dog-friendly city is rounded off by numerous dog schools, dog clubs and dog hotels. Fressnapf is rewarding Munich’s dog-friendliness with a donation of 5,000 euros to a project intended to further improve the situation of Munich’s dogs.

Germany’s dog owners had the choice
For the first time, Germany’s dog owners had the opportunity to cast their vote for the dog-friendliness of their city in the survey via the Internet. The key criteria of the leash requirement, the number of spaces where dogs can run free and the number of dog mess bag dispensers were the most important factors in their eyes for the dog-friendliness of their city, followed by the fares charged for their dog on buses and trams and the criteria of the dog licence fee and the number of dog schools, dog clubs and dog hotels. 42 percent of dog owners rated their own city thereby as “dog-friendly” or “very dog-friendly”. Only 28 percent awarded their city the mark of “not dog-friendly” or “not in the least dog-friendly”. “That is a positive signal: Apparently the living together of man and dog works really well even in the constricted space of life in a major city,” explains Fressnapf’s company spokesman Achim Schütz. “That all the bans and regulations on dogs in the city do not get out of hand and that city-dwellers with and without dogs show understanding and respect for one another – that is something worth promoting.”

Animal companions in the city
The friend with the cold snout is gaining ever more significance for its humans, has long been a beloved member of the family. It fascinates, is fun, is a companion and guard, but also a soul mate and therapist. Especially for older people or people with only few social contacts, the dog is an inseparable partner which gives them unconditional attention and affection. Reason enough for Fressnapf to honour the city that appreciates that and goes that extra mile for the dog-human team. The “Goldener Fressnapf” award is intended as an incentive for other cities to show more commitment for our four-legged friends: “Our cause”, adds Achim Schütz, “is to encourage Germany’s cities and communities to allow a dog to be kept in the midst of streets and squares in a way that earns the distinction of species-compatible and worth living.”

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Goldener Fressnapf 2010 for Munich RGB – JPG Major bow-wow in Munich’s City Hall: Munich’s lord mayor Christian Ude receives the “Goldener Fressnapf 2010” from the hands of Fressnapf spokesman Achim Schütz (left). Also delighted by the distinction are Evelyne Menges, city councillor and animal protection officer in Munich, and canine Munich citizens Pollux and Wega. Photo: Fressnapf/Jens Hartmann Download (1139KB)