Dog owners in Jena: Responsibility demanded on World Dog Day!

Dog owners in Jena: Responsibility demanded on World Dog Day!

On today's World Dog Day, October 10, 2025, the Jena Municipal Service (KSJ) is setting an example for more consideration and cleanliness in living together with our four-legged friends. There are around 80 dog waste bag dispensers in Jena that are designed to help dog owners properly dispose of the waste left behind by their four-legged companions. According to jenatv.de, the people of Jena use around 500,000 dog waste bags every year, which is considerable and shows the need for every dog ​​owner to ensure cleanliness on the streets, playgrounds and green spaces.

If you're wondering how much a dog poop bag dispenser costs, you're right: around 250 euros. Every year the city spends around 1,874 euros on 300,000 bags, which are financed through public street cleaning. The budget ensures that over 700 wastebaskets and a total of around 280 waste containers are set up in Jena to keep the cityscape clean.

Dog poop as an environmental problem

Dealing with dog excrement is not only an issue of cleanliness, but is also increasingly becoming an environmental problem. These remains are a breeding ground for bacteria and pathogens, as resorti.de describes in detail. In many cities, not just Jena, the issue of dog fouling is hotly debated, as complaints from residents are often unsuccessful. It is hoped that solutions such as installing more dog waste bag dispensers and special dog toilets will improve the situation.

In context, a current study by Curtin University shows that dog ownership in Germany has increased significantly since 2015. By 2024 there will already be 10.5 million dogs in households. But the joy of having these loyal companions is accompanied by serious ecological consequences. Dogs leave behind not only feces, but also urine and odors that can disrupt the behavior of wild animals and cause them to avoid their usual habitats. This is an alarm signal for nature that should not be ignored, as the geo.de study emphatically emphasizes.

Create awareness of the environment

The feces left behind and the chemicals in dog food can pollute soil and water, which highlights the need to think about the environment when it comes to dog ownership. In the debate about dog ownership, it is therefore recommended that dog owners keep their animals on a leash in sensitive natural areas and choose sustainable dog food. A conscious approach to your four-legged friends can help to significantly reduce the impact on the environment.

The KSJ encourages dog owners in Jena to only take one or two bags with them per walk and to dispose of their dogs' waste responsibly. In addition, information about defects can be provided via the city's defect reporter (maengelmelder.jena.de) in order to further improve the infrastructure.