Backgrounder| Capital City: | Berlin | | Population: | 82,329,758 | | GDP: | $2,860,000,000,000 (USD) | | Total Area: | 357,021 (sq km) 137,846 (sq mi) | | Currency: | euro |
Germany has approximately 82 million people packed into a country not quite as large as the state of Montana. It is the seventh largest country by area in Europe and the 63rd largest in the world.
The country is divided into 16 federal states, each with constitutions, parliaments and governments that exercise wide ranging powers and responsibilities. Due to the historic development of Germany, eating habits and preferences do vary from region to region.
Most of Germany has a temperate seasonal climate in which humid westerly winds predominate. Average annual precipitation is around 800 mm.Winters are mild and summers tend to be cool. The majority of Germany is covered by either arable land (33%) or forestry and woodland (31%). Only 15% is covered by permanent pastures.
Germany accounts for the largest population among the European Union, and is home to the third-largest number of international migrants worldwide. As of December 2004, about seven million foreign citizens were registered in Germany, and 19% of the country's residents were of foreign or partially foreign descent.
Bavaria
When in Germany we will be in Bavaria region. Both Nuremberg and Munich are located in this famous region with Munich being the capital.
Bavaria has long had one of the largest and healthiest economies of any region in Germany, or Europe for that matter. Its GDP in 2007 exceeded 434 billion Euros (about US$600 billion). This makes Bavaria itself one of the largest economies in Europe and the 18th largest in the world. Some large companies with headquarters n Bavaria include BMW, Siemens, Audi, Munich Re, Allianz, Infineon, MAN, Wacker Chemie, Puma AG,and Adidas AG.
Bavarians consider themselves to be egalitarian and informal. Their sociability can be experienced at the annual Oktoberfest, the world's largest beer festival, which welcomes around six million visitors every year, or in the famous beer gardens. In traditional Bavarian beer gardens, patrons may bring their own food and only buy beer from the brewery that runs the beer garden.
Munich
Munich is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany. It is located on the River Isar north of the Bavarian Alps. Munich is the third largest city in Germany, after Berlin and Hamburg. There are approximately 1.35 million people living within city limits, while the Munich Metropolitan Area is home to over 5 million people.
Munich has the strongest economy of any German city, as well as the lowest unemployment rate (5.6%) of any German city with more than a million people (the other ones being Berlin and Hamburg). The city is also the economic centre of southern Germany.
Munich is considered a global city and holds the headquarters of Siemens AG (electronics), BMW (car), MAN AG Linde (gases), Allianz (insurance) and Munich Re (re-insurance), Rohde & Schwarz (electronics). Among German cities with more than 500,000 inhabitants purchasing power is highest in Munich (26,648 euro per inhabitant) as of 2007.In 2006, Munich blue-collar workers enjoyed an average hourly wage of 18.62 euro (ca. $ 23).[17]
Munich is also a centre for biotechnology, software, has significance as a financial centre and is the largest publishing city in Europe.
Nuremberg
Nuremberg is Bavaria's second largest city after Munich. It is situated on the Pegnitz river and the Main-Danube Canal. It is located about 160 km north of Munich and has a population of just over 500,000.
When one thinks of Nuremberg, they usually think of gingerbread, toys, Christmas, but also the Reich Party Rally Grounds or the Nuremberg Trials.
In the nineteenth century Nuremberg became the "industrial heart" of Bavaria with companies such as Siemens and MAN establishing a strong base in the city.
Nuremberg is still an important industrial center with a strong standing in the markets of Central and Eastern Europe. Items manufactured in the area include electrical equipment, mechanical and optical products, motor vehicles, and printed materials. The city is also strong in the fields of automation, energy, and medical technology.
Siemens is still the largest industrial employer in the Nuremberg region but a good third of German market research agencies is also located in the city. The Nuremberg International Toy Fair is the largest of its kind in the world. The city also hosts several specialist hi-tech fairs every year, attracting experts from every corner of the globe.
Pet Statistics - Germany
Pet population in Germany| Cats: | 8.2 million | | Dogs: | 5.5 million | | Small animals: | 6.2 million | | Birds: | 3.4 million |
Source: IVH
Germany's pet care market is proving resilient against the economic downturn. The Industrial Association of Pet Care Producers (Industrieverband Heimtierbedarf - IVH) reported in May that consumer sales in 2008 increased by 4.4 per cent over the previous year.
The market for pet food totaled €2,594 million while accessories and pet care products totalled €906 million.
Within the pet food segment, cat food has the largest share with sales of €1,311 million.The market for snacks grew by 11.7 per cent to €153 million. Sales of dog food were at €1,037 million, with dry food taking the largest share at €391 million. Wet food totaled €350 million and snacks €296 million. Small animal food accounted for €118 million, while fish food turnover stood at €70 million. Cat litter is the largest single product category outside pet food, taking a sizeable chunk of the market with sales of €218 million.
Other figures include:- Accessories for cats €172 m
- Accessories for dogs €146 m
- Accessories for small animals €104 m
- Accessories for fish €220 m
All these areas showed an increase in turnover in the region of six per cent compared with 2007, apart from accessories for fish which were down by 0.9 per cent. Around 18 per cent of pet accessories are sold through supermarkets, drug stores and discounters (Aldi, Lidl for example). The rest are sold through specialist pet stores or pet departments within garden centres, DIY stores etc. The IVH reports that pets are to be found in a third of all German households (fish and reptiles are not included in this estimate). There are said to be two million aquariums in Germany and an additional 2.2 million garden ponds containing fish. There are also estimated to be 430,000 vivariums in the country.
Pets in Germany
Germans in general love pets, particularly dogs. You will see Pets in Germany everywhere: on the train, in the restaurant, in the bookstore, everywhere! From the tiny tea-cup of a dog with little pink bows in its hair, shivering in the arms of their owner, to the big strong full-of-energy Bouvier pulling its master.
In brief, Germany is a dog paradise on earth. They even have their own public swimming pools.
Pets in Germany are the complete responsibility of their owner and any damage caused by the animal is your legal responsibility. If, for example, your dog runs after a cyclist who falls and hurts himself, you are responsible. This could involve a very expensive law-suit, especially if the person ends up disabled. So, it is not uncommon to get a personal liability policy for your dog in Germany. This insurance costs around 70 Euros per year. On the other hand, if your dog weighs 2 ounces, it might not be so necessary.
While the Germans love their dogs there are rules concerning them. If you wish to bring a cat or dog into Germany, the animal must have been vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days but no more than 12 months prior to its entry. Proof of examination must be presented at the border.
It is a European Union requirement that dogs and cats have an identification number, either on a clearly visible tattoo or as a microchip, and that this number corresponds to one on the proof of examination. (For travel between European Union countries, the pets must now have a passport, issued by a licensed veterinarian.)
If you live in rented quarters you must have the permission of the landlord before keeping a pet, and dogs must be licensed. Cats need no license.
Certain breeds of dogs present special problems. The rules vary from state to state in Germany, but most consider Pit Bulls, Staffordshire Bull Terriers and American Staffordshire Terriers too dangerous. Several of the states, including Bavaria, also have what they consider a Category 2 Kampfhund, and this includes the Rottweiler. There is no outright ban on the import of Rottweilers, but they must be submitted to a viciousness test.
Dogs are not allowed in grocery stores, butcher shops and other shops where fresh food is sold. Some Konditerei, or cafes, don't allow them either. Establishments that don't want you to bring your dog inside will have a small sign affixed on the window. It usually shows a picture of a dog and will read something like, Wir müssen leider daraussen warten (unfortunately, we must wait outside).
You can take your dog or cat with you when traveling. Train tickets in Germany can be purchased for them at about half the regular fare. Rules for air transport of animals vary from airline to airline, but, in response to customer demand, they are usually friendly about it. The airline should be notified when you book the flight if you plan to take a pet.
DOG DNA
Volkach, a small Bavarian town is beginning to DNA testing every dog so they can fine their owners when they foul public spaces. The scheme would involve taking either fur or saliva from each of the 420 registered hounds in town.
Any person who has trodden in their muck because their owners were too lazy or indifferent to clean up after them will know how distasteful and infuriating it is. The town council meets to approve the dog watch plan in February and to set up the DNA bank is estimated to cost €87,000.
The plan also calls for a dog warden whose job it will be to collect errant canine ordure and match it with the databank - or put out an alert for a stray that must be stopped.
Residents in districts of Berlin where the footpaths sometimes resemble open dog sewers have demanded DNA testing for years. But with the city broke to the tune of billions, it will need a small town like Volkach to pioneer it.
In Volkach, some councillors want a 20 euro reward offered to people who squeal on dirty dogs. In Berlin an avant garde artist who tried to clean up the streets by baking dog turds in a kiln in his flat to use as briquettes in solid fuel stoves was forced to stop because the smell was "intolerable" for neighbours.
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