For many people, having a dog is an important source of emotional support.
Especially for people with few social contacts, a furry friend can fulfil this important function.
Does this mean that unemployed dog owners are entitled to financial support? This is the opinion of an unemployed person who is demanding money from the job centre.
Purchase costs, food costs and dog tax
The man from Baden-Württemberg is demanding reimbursement of the purchase costs for the dog as well as 200 euros a month for food and dog tax.
He justifies his claim by claiming that the dog is important for maintaining his emotional health.
During the coronavirus pandemic, he has lost most of his social contacts and is therefore dependent on the dog for emotional reasons.
At the same time, it is not possible for him to cover the costs from the citizen’s allowance (before 2023: unemployment benefit 2 or „Hartz IV“).
Two court cases
The responsible job centre refuses to make the requested payments. The man does not want to accept this and takes legal action before the Stuttgart Social Court.
The court decides in favour of the job centre and sees no obligation to pay. A second case is brought before the Baden-Württemberg State Social Court.
The judges agree with the judgement of the first instance: The man is not entitled to have his costs covered by the job centre.
Emotional significance recognised
The judgement in no way questions the importance of the dog for the man’s emotional well-being.
There are several reasons why he was nevertheless unable to prevail with his claims.
Firstly, according to the judges, he should not have got the dog in the first place if he could not afford the costs.
Secondly, a dog is not part of the minimum subsistence level. Thirdly, the man was able to socialise with other people.
Fair judgement?
The case is now legally settled, provided the unemployed man does not take his claim to the Federal Social Court. Is it a fair judgement?
Opinions are divided on this. In principle, it is true that the question of costs should be clarified before you get a dog.
On the other hand, the state social court did recognise the importance of the dog for the man’s well-being.
Source: Deine Tierwelt
