What Happens to a Dog After the Owner Dies in Austria

What Happens to a Dog After the Owner Dies in Austria Dog ownership in Austria: what happens to your dog after you die? Complete guide to inheritance, animal shelters, dog tax, microchip transfer, and will planning. Topics: Daily Life, Leisure & Culture.

What happens to your dog after you die in Austria? This is a question most dog owners prefer not to think about — yet it is one of the most important decisions you can make for your four-legged companion. Every year, hundreds of dogs end up in Austrian Tierheime (animal shelters) simply because their owners passed away without making arrangements.

In this article, you will learn: how Austrian law treats dogs after the owner’s death, how to protect your dog through a Testament (will), what happens to the Hundeabgabe (dog tax) and microchip, how to surrender a dog to a shelter, and what alternatives exist. You will also find a practical checklist for the process.

Legal Status of Dogs in Austria

Under Austrian law, animals are legally classified as things (§ 285a ABGB). As harsh as it sounds, your dog is part of the deceased’s estate (Nachlass). This means the dog cannot inherit — it is inherited, like any other possession.

The heirs take on the responsibility for the dog’s proper care. If they cannot or do not want to keep the animal, they must place it in suitable hands. Importantly, as oesterreich.gv.at clarifies, the Hundeabgabe (dog tax) obligation continues until the dog is officially deregistered — even after the owner’s death.

Austria’s first animal rights lawyer, Susanne Chyba, explained this in an interview with ORF Niederösterreich:

An animal cannot be named as an heir in a will. However, you can appoint a sole heir under the condition that they care for the animal. Compliance is monitored by an executor (Testamentsvollstrecker).

What Happens Without a Will

If the owner dies without a Testament (will), the statutory inheritance rules apply. The dog passes to the legal heirs — spouse, children, or parents. Problems arise when none of the heirs want or can take the dog.

In practice, dogs without a will often end up in a Tierheim (animal shelter). For the animal, this is extremely stressful. As a Salzburg shelter worker told Salzburg24, dogs sometimes sit for hours or even days next to their owner’s body without food or water.

There is another complication: the Hundeabgabe (dog tax) continues to accrue until the dog is deregistered. Heirs must handle these formalities in addition to deciding the dog’s fate.

Protecting Your Dog Through a Will

To secure your dog’s future in Austria, you need to plan ahead. Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Find a trusted person — talk to relatives, friends, or acquaintances willing to take your dog. Ideally, the dog already knows this person.

2. Draft a will with a condition — appoint a sole heir (Alleinerbe) with the obligation (Auflage) to care for your dog. Alternatively, use a Vermächtnis (legacy): a specific person (not necessarily an heir) receives the dog, usually with a sum of money for its upkeep.

3. Set aside funds — specify in the will how much money should go toward food, veterinary care, and other expenses. This prevents costs from deterring potential new owners.

4. Name backups — list a second and third person in case the first choice cannot take the dog.

5. Arrange a Vorsorgevollmacht (living will) — it can take weeks until the will is opened. A Vorsorgevollmacht ensures your dog is cared for immediately after your death.

Dog Tax in Austria: What Heirs Must Do

The Hundeabgabe (dog tax) is mandatory for all dog owners in Austria. When the owner dies, the following steps are necessary:

• Deregister the dog at the local municipality or magistrate. Without deregistration, the tax continues — heirs would have to pay it from the estate.
• Request a refund — some municipalities refund the dog tax on a pro-rata basis, depending on the province.
• Return the Hundemarke (dog tag) — in Vienna, physical tags have not been issued since 2012. Identification is done via the electronic microchip.

As oesterreich.gv.at reminds, without official deregistration, the tax obligation remains in effect.

Animal Shelter as a Last Resort

If no family member or friend can take the dog, the Tierheim (animal shelter) is often the only option. Austria has a well-developed network of shelters that accept dogs and find them new homes.

Surrender fees vary widely. The Schnauzerl Tierzuflucht in Neumarkt am Wallersee charges between €250 and €600 for accepting a dog, depending on age, health, and adoptability. Many shelters also offer Vermittlungshilfe — placement assistance where the dog stays with acquaintances while the shelter helps find a new home.

By law, Austrian shelters must keep a Vormerkbuch (registry book) documenting the previous owner’s name and address, the reason for admission, and the dog’s health status. These records must be kept for at least three years.

Liability Insurance and Microchip Transfer

Several Austrian provinces (Upper Austria, Vienna, Lower Austria, Salzburg, Styria) require Hundehaftpflichtversicherung — dog liability insurance. In Upper Austria, the minimum coverage is €725,000.

After the owner’s death, the insurance must either be transferred to the new owner or cancelled. Until the dog is deregistered, coverage remains in effect — important during the transition period.

Since January 1, 2010, all dogs in Austria must be microchipped and registered in the Heimtierdatenbank (pet database). The chip must be re-registered to the new owner. Without this, liability issues can arise in case of an incident.

Organisations That Help Dogs After the Owner’s Death

Beyond municipal shelters, several specialised organisations assist with dogs after the owner’s death:

Organisation	Services	Contact
Animal Care Austria	Takes in dogs, finds new homes, offers will consultation	0676/4466674
Schnauzerl Tierzuflucht	Accepts surrendered animals, placement assistance	06216/4664
Vier Pfoten Austria	Consultation on rehoming and will planning	0800 0800 0400
Local Tierheime	Admission and rehoming, often cheaper with testamentary donation	Varies by municipality

Many of these organisations offer Tierabsicherung (pet insurance for death). The owner pays roughly €100 per month, and in the event of death, the organisation takes over full care of the dog. This is especially useful for elderly dog owners.

How to Surrender a Dog to a Shelter

If a dog needs to be surrendered after the owner’s death, the process in Austrian shelters follows a standard procedure:

1. Contact the shelter — by phone or email
2. Pre-registration — provide details about age, breed, health, and behaviour
3. Admission interview — a shelter employee discusses the situation with the heirs
4. Payment of fee — between €150 and €600 depending on the facility
5. Veterinary examination — chip check, vaccination, and health assessment
6. Registry entry — all data documented

Older dogs and those with health issues are harder to rehome. Shelters must document all available medical history so the new veterinarian can continue treatment.

Thousands of dogs and cats are surrendered to Austrian animal shelters every year because their owners have died. Older animals have the lowest chances of being rehomed — yet they are often the most loyal and grateful companions.

— German Animal Welfare Association, “Du und das Tier” magazine

What to Do If You Take Over a Dog After the Owner’s Death

You have taken in a dog from a deceased relative or acquaintance? Here are the essential steps:

• Transfer the dog tax — go to the municipality and register the dog in your name.
• Re-register the microchip — visit a vet or update the owner directly in the Heimtierdatenbank.
• Get liability insurance — if you do not already have Hundehaftpflichtversicherung, take out a policy.
• Update the Hundepass (pet passport) — the European Pet Passport must be updated to the new owner.
• Visit a vet — get a health check and discuss any special needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a dog be named as an heir in Austria? No, dogs are legally considered property and cannot inherit. However, you can appoint an heir under the condition that they care for the dog.

How much does it cost to surrender a dog to a shelter? Between €150 and €600, depending on the shelter and the dog’s condition. Fees for elderly or sick dogs may be negotiable.

Does the dog tax continue after the owner’s death? Yes, the tax continues until the dog is officially deregistered at the municipality.

What happens to a dog with no heirs? The authorities place the dog in a shelter. The probate court (Nachlassgericht) decides the final outcome.

Is there insurance for dogs after the owner’s death? Yes, called Tierabsicherung — about €100 per month. The organisation guarantees to care for the dog after your death.

Plan Ahead — Protect Your Dog

Dog ownership in Austria comes with the responsibility of planning for your pet’s future. With proper preparation, your dog will never have to end up in a shelter.

The key steps are: find a trusted person, draft a Testament (will) with a care condition, allocate funds for the dog’s upkeep, and arrange a Vorsorgevollmacht (living will) for the transition period. Elderly owners should strongly consider Tierabsicherung through an animal welfare organisation.

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