Bolzano, in northern Italy, will ask local residents to pay an annual tax of €100 per dog, while tourists will have to cough up €1.50 per dog per day of their visit.

The new regime, coming into effect from 2026, is intended to help pay for street cleaning and fund new dog parks, CNN reports.

Local dog owners are already required to register their pets’ DNA so those who fail to pick up after their pooches can be identified and fined up to €600 per violation.

Responsible owners who have complied and submitted their dogs’ DNA to the database will be rewarded with an exemption from the new tax for two years.

Luis Walcher, the local councillor who introduced the new measure, said: “This is a fair measure because it concerns dog owners exclusively. Otherwise, pavement cleaning would be the responsibility of the entire community, when it must be said that the only filth on our city streets is dog waste.”

However, Italy’s animal protection charity ENPA has blasted both the tax and the “absurd dog DNA project”.

“It’s paradoxical that in an area that thrives on tourism and hospitality, we’re targeting precisely those who choose a respectful and inclusive vacation, bringing their four-legged companion along,” spokesperson Carla Rocchi said.