Dog ownership - Exemption from the muzzle requirement on medical grounds
Hundehaltung - Befreiung von der Maulkorbpflicht bei medizinischer Indikation
Machine translation of the German page, 2026-09-15. The German original is binding.
If a dog classified as dangerous solely because of its breed, or a dog that has been ordered to wear a muzzle because of its dangerousness, suffers particularly from the muzzle requirement due to an illness, it can be exempted from the muzzle requirement for a limited period, as long as it does not pose a specific danger.
Book an appointment
Book an appointment (service.berlin.de)
Requirements
• Illness of the dog
An illness of the animal that causes it to suffer particularly under the Maulkorbpflicht (muzzle requirement).
• Absence of danger posed by the animal
The dog must not pose a danger to its surroundings. The danger to the public, or the danger posed by the dog, must not be greater than the dog's medical suffering.
Documents you need
• Application for exemption from the Maulkorbpflicht (muzzle requirement) on medical grounds
You will receive the application on request from the authority responsible for you.
• Details on the dog
• Dog breed/crossbreed
• Chip number
• Details on the veterinarian
• Tierärztliches Attest (veterinary certificate)
Certificate from a practicing veterinarian stating that the dog, because of an illness named in the certificate, suffers particularly under the muzzle requirement and should therefore be exempted from it. The certificate should have been issued no more than one month before the application is submitted.
• Additional official veterinary assessment, if applicable
In unclear or critical cases (e.g. where incidents have occurred), an additional official veterinary assessment may take place at the responsible authority. For this you must present your dog at the responsible authority at a set appointment (Termin). Where this applies, the authority will contact you using your contact details.
Forms
• The application form is issued at the Behörde (office) upon request
Fees
• 15.00 euros: initial application
• 10.00 euros: extension
Legal basis
• Hundegesetz (HundeG, Dog Act) § 20 para. 2 gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-NNLBE00004860NN000000000
• Verbraucherschutzgebührenordnung (VSGebO, Consumer Protection Fee Schedule) Annex, Section II, tariff items 34040 and 34041 gesetze.berlin.de/bsbe/document/jlr-NNLBE00004EC4NN000000000
Responsible for you
Choose a location; the appointment itself is booked on the original page.
- Bezirksamt Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf
- Ordnungsamt - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Ordnungsamt Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg
- Bezirksamt Lichtenberg
- Ordnungsamt - Fachbereich Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Ordnungsamt/Veterinärüberwachung Marzahn-Hellersdorf
- Bezirksamt Mitte
- Ordnungsamt Mitte - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Neukölln
- Ordnungsamt Neukölln - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Pankow
- Ordnungsamt - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Reinickendorf
- Ordnungsamt Reinickendorf - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Spandau
- Ordnungsamt Spandau - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf
- Ordnungsamt Steglitz-Zehlendorf - Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg
- Ordnungsamt Tempelhof-Schöneberg Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
- Bezirksamt Treptow-Köpenick
- Ordnungsamt Treptow-Köpenick / Veterinär- und Lebensmittelaufsicht
Original
Service number 325839 · same path as the original: service.berlin.de/dienstleistung/325839/