The canton of Zurich’s veterinary office handled more than 1,700 dog-related incidents in 2025 and is stepping up prevention work on both animal welfare and livestock disease control, according to the Zürich Veterinary Office annual report for 2025.
The report covers the office’s work across dog regulation, animal protection, food safety and epidemic control, and comes shortly after new rules for dog owners came into force on 1 June 2025.
In the area of animal health, the dynamic animal disease situation in Europe continued to pose significant challenges for the Canton of Zurich. The Veterinary Office is consistently focusing on early detection, prevention, crisis preparedness, and close cooperation with all partners.
Dog Bite Incidents Remained Stable and Declined By 1.5%
The 2025 figures show that dog incidents remain a persistent challenge in the canton, with bite reports, aggression cases and conflicts between animals all staying at elevated levels compared with pre-pandemic years.
Over 800 dog bites were recorded in the canton in recent years, with children disproportionately affected because their heads are level with a dog’s snout and they often instinctively behave in ways that provoke animals.
To address that risk, Zürich runs a school programme called “Codex Kind und Hund” that sends instructors into classrooms and kindergartens to teach children how to behave safely around dogs.
Around 300 courses are held annually across the canton, funded by dog licence revenue, and the veterinary office says it wants to eventually ensure every child in Zürich completes the training.
“This ensures that mandatory dog training courses teach humane and non-violent handling of dogs,” says cantonal veterinarian Lukas Perler.
Read More: Why Swiss Rents are Rising Faster Again: Raiffeisen Q2 2026 Report – Helvetica Times
Zurich Tightens Dog Rules For First-Time Owners
The new rules that came into force in June 2025 tighten obligations for dog owners. First-time owners and those returning to dog ownership after a break are now required to complete a two-hour theory course, while all dog owners (whether buying a first or subsequent dog) must attend a six-hour practical training course. The changes are designed to improve responsible ownership and reduce the number of preventable incidents.
