The city of Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture is revisiting the long phased out dog tax (1982), which was once imposed in the village of Shiga, Nagano Prefecture. Apparently dog owners are failing to keep the streets clean and the poopy mess left behind is the reason behind the tax. Residents have been complaining to the authorities and almost 30 complaints came in last year.
With the number of complaints on the rise, Mayor Hiroyasu Chiyomatsu wants resolve the issue once and for all. The tax collected will be used to fund a special patrol that will have the sole responsibility of keeping the streets free of dog poop. The tax could get implemented within the next two years.
There are about 5,374 dogs registered in Izumisano. Earlier the city has introduced a spot-fine system where they levied a ¥1,000 charge on those who littered the streets with cigarette butt or didn’t clean up after their dogs. So far not a single person has been fined using this system. However, the new taxation system that will provide for regular services of a poop-squad, sounds like better plan.