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People in Berlin can soon get a 'driver's license' for their dogs

walking a dog
Mario Tama/Getty Images

In Berlin, policymakers have passed a law creating a driver's license for dogs. But despite how it may sound, the permit has nothing to do with cars — it's a license for dog owners who wish to let their pups run free without a leash.

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As reported by Berlin Magazine, the draft of the law was approved by the Berlin House of Representatives on Wednesday. The permit will be called a Hundeführerschein — literally a dog driver's license — and like a driver's license, it'll have to be renewed (annually, in this case).

Here's the catch: The license costs €100 ($112), with an annual renewal fee of  €40. That's roughly $45 Germans will have to spend every year for the privilege of walking their dogs untethered.

Atlantic's CityLab also reports that the canines will need to pass a training and management test.

Berlin's dog owners are already required to register their pets — the city currently has approximately 100,000 registered dogs — but the new law was introduced to address risks posed by potentially dangerous breeds. It outlaws breeding and requires muzzles for four kinds of dogs: the American Staffordshire terrier, pitbull, bull terrier, and Tosa. Dogs under 30 centimeters long are exempt (so corgis and chihuahuas can always run free). 

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So the law's not as silly as it sounds. In fact, compared to the United States, where leash laws vary from state to state, and even from county to county in some areas, Berlin has made its policy fairly easy (if somewhat expensive) to follow.

Germany Dogs
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