Animal keeper in Weidefeld stroking two happy dogs.

Our partners

Unity is strength - the German Animal Welfare Federation therefore works together with various other organizations at national and international level. On the one hand, such cooperation takes place selectively in order to tackle very specific problems. On the other hand, we work together with other associations within the framework of fixed alliances.

National alliances

AG Welpenhandel (AG Illegal puppy trade) Since March 2015, the German Animal Welfare Federation has been working with the Bund gegen Missbrauch der Tiere (bmt), the Gesellschaft für Tierverhaltensmedizin und -therapie, TASSO, the Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT), the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen (VDH) and Vier Pfoten to tackle the numerous animal welfare problems associated with the illegal dog trade in the AG Welpenhandel (Wühltischwelpen). Learn more

AgrarBündnis The "AgrarBündnis" is an association of currently 24 independent organizations in Germany from the fields of agriculture, environmental, nature and animal protection as well as consumer and development policy with more than one million individual members.

One of its main projects is the publication of the yearbook "Der kritische Agrarbericht" (The Critical Agricultural Report). In addition, the AgrarBündnis organizes seminars, conferences and workshops on current agricultural policy issues. Learn more

Agrar-Verbändeplattform (Agricultural associations platform) The Agricultural Associations Platform was originally founded in 2001 as the "Agenda 2007" platform. Through the use of German and European funding, it aims to create an agriculture in Europe that is environmentally and socially compatible. In order to implement the necessary reforms politically, it monitors and evaluates the "Gemeinsame Agragpolitik (GAP)" (European Union's Common Agricultural Policy) and develops concrete proposals for its reorientation. Learn more

GDT (Federal Association of German Animal Rescue Services) In 2022, the "Bundesverband Gemeinschaft Deutscher Tierrettungsdienste (GDT)" (Federal Association of German Animal Rescue Services) and the German Animal Welfare Federation set up a joint task force to rescue animals in distress in order to be prepared for disaster operations and to be able to provide rapid assistance in the event of an emergency - such as floods, fires, epidemics or similar. FINDEFIX, the pet register of the German Animal Welfare Federation, is closely involved in the cooperation. Learn more

Deutscher Naturschutzring (German Nature Conservation Ring) In the "Deutscher Naturschutzring (DNR)"(German Nature Conservation Ring), the umbrella organization of nature conservation associations in Germany, we have the opportunity, among other things, to win over a wider circle in the environmental movement for the idea of animal welfare. Our campaign against intensive livestock farming, which is hostile to animals and the environment, and against the threat to native songbirds can thus be placed on a broader footing. Our President Thomas Schröder was elected Vice President of the DNR in March 2021. Learn more

KAT (Association for controlled alternative forms of animal husbandry) "KAT - Verein für kontrollierte alternative Tierhaltungsformen" (Association for controlled alternative forms of animal husbandry) was founded in 1995 and checks compliance with legal regulations and additional KAT requirements for organic, free-range and barn eggs. In cooperation with the German Animal Welfare Federation, the "Bund gegen den Missbrauch der Tiere" and the "Bundesverband Tierschutz", KAT has developed even stricter criteria for hen husbandry. Learn more

Meine Landwirtschaft (my agriculture) The campaign alliance "Meine Landwirtschaft" (My agriculture) has dedicated itself to the fight for a greener, fairer and more animal welfare-compliant EU agricultural reform. The alliance's supporting organizations are "BUND", "AbL" and the German Animal Welfare Federation. A total of 47 supporting organizations belong to the alliance. Among other things, "Meine Landwirtschaft" organizes the annual "We've had enough" demonstration at the Green Week in Berlin. Learn more

Pro Igel (pro hedgehog) "Pro Igel, Verein für integrierte Naturschutz Deutschland e.V." (Pro Igel, Association for Integrated Nature Conservation Germany) is a nationwide hedgehog protection association that campaigns for the protection of the native hedgehog through public relations work and numerous publications, publishes instructions for the proper care of hedgehogs in need of help, supports hedgehog finders in an advisory capacity, and collects and promotes research work on the hedgehog as a wild animal. Learn more

QUEN (Torture breeding evidence network) The "Qualzucht Evidenz Netzwerk (QUEN)" (Torture breeding evidence network) is a collaboration between various animal welfare organizations, official veterinarians and specialist veterinarians to expand a database regarding the characteristics of torture breeding in order to better implement the existing ban on torture breeding (§11b Animal Welfare Act). The information sheets, court rulings etc. are available to everyone and can be used freely. Contact can also be made directly if help is needed in a specific case. The German Animal Welfare Federation played a key role in the development and networking of the project and continues to be in direct contact and support. Learn more

TVT (Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare) The German Animal Welfare Federation works with the German "Tierärtzliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT)" (Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare) on various projects, for example at the animal shelter symposium and in the puppy trade working group. Learn more

Tierzuchtfonds (Animal breeding fund) The "Tierzuchtfonds" (Animal Breeding Fund) is a joint initiative of the German Animal Welfare Federation, the Schweisfurth Foundation and the "Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft" (Future Foundation for Agriculture) to counteract excesses in agricultural animal breeding. This fund supports scientific and practical projects that promote species-appropriate animal breeding. Learn more

VBG (Administrative Employers' Liability Insurance Association) In cooperation with the German Animal Welfare Federation, the "Verwaltungsberufsgenossenschaft (VBG)" (Administrative Employers' Liability Insurance Association) publishes specialist information sheets for animal shelters and regularly organizes seminars on occupational safety and risk prevention when handling animals in cooperation with us. Learn more

International cooperation

Aquatic Animal Alliance In 2021, the German Animal Welfare Federation joined the Aquatic Animal Alliance. The international alliance of animal welfare organizations worldwide is committed to protecting and improving the lives of aquatic creatures and raising animal welfare standards for fish in aquaculture. Learn more

CAAT-Europe - Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing in Europe The Centre for Alternatives to Animal Testing in Europe (CAAT-Europe) is based at the University of Konstanz and links and coordinates transatlantic activities to promote the 3Rs together with CAAT US, which is active in the USA. CAAT-Europe aims to promote the development of new and improved methods in toxicology, to be a partner in strategy development and to provide platforms for various topics. Different stakeholders are brought together to exchange ideas and support the 3Rs principle of humane science in different ways. The Academy for Animal Welfare is represented on the Board of CAAT-Europe. Learn more

Eurogroup for Animals The German Animal Welfare Federation is a founding member of the Eurogroup for Animals (EfA). Together with the leading animal welfare associations in neighboring European countries, we joined forces in 1980 to form this European umbrella organization. EfA currently consists of 91 member organizations from the 27 EU member states and 19 other countries, including the UK, Montenegro, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Australia and Switzerland. As an umbrella organization, the EfA carries out coordinated lobbying and campaigns for better legislation and higher standards for animals at EU level. The EfA defines the substantive basis for its positions and demands in numerous topic-specific working groups in which we actively participate. Learn more

Fur Free Alliance In 2014, the German Animal Welfare Federation joined the Fur Free Alliance. This global alliance of various animal welfare organizations is committed to ensuring that animals are not killed for their fur alone. The German Animal Welfare Federation is also involved in various working groups: The Fur Farming Working Group, for example, aims to achieve a worldwide ban on fur farms. The Fur Free Retailer Working Group is working to raise awareness of the program and convince other retailers to make their product ranges fur-free. Learn more

ICAPO - Animal welfare at the OECD In the International Council on Animal Protection in OECD Programmes (ICAPO), the German Animal Welfare Federation lobbies the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) for the inclusion and implementation of alternatives to animal testing in the OECD chemical testing guidelines used worldwide. Learn more

ICAPPP - Animal welfare in the review of medicinal products The German Animal Welfare Federation is also active in ICAPO's sister organization, the International Council on Animal Protection in Pharmaceutical Programmes (ICAPPP). Here it campaigns for the protection of animals within the framework of international drug safety regulations. Learn more

Mondo Animale Foundation Since 2001, the German-Italian foundation for animal welfare, Fondazione Mondo Animale, founded by Dorothea Friz together with the German Animal Welfare Federation, has been working towards its goal of promoting animal welfare in Italy - particularly through training and education. Learn more

World Federation for Animals The German Animal Welfare Federation is a member of the World Federation for Animals (WFA), which was founded in 2020 by and for national, regional and international animal welfare organizations to join forces and work together towards broad representation of animal interests in international policy forums. By harnessing the collective strength of the animal welfare movement, it is seizing a significant opportunity to ensure that animals are finally considered in global policymaking. Learn more

Participation in committees

Scientific facts and their interpretation are never value-free. It must be our task to compile all findings that can be used for the justified protection of animals and to represent them in the expert discussion. Experience shows that the mere presence of an animal welfare representative often leads to more attention being paid to facts relevant to animal welfare. Important foundations for political decisions are often developed unnoticed by the public through persistent discussions in various expert committees. For these reasons, the German Animal Welfare Federation is active in many committees.

ALTEX In order to spread the idea of animal welfare in the scientific community and to strengthen animal-free research methods, the German Animal Welfare Association is represented on the board of the ALTEX Edition association, which publishes the English-language journal ALTEX (Alternatives to Animal Experiments). This is one of the leading journals in the field of animal-free science. Learn more

Bundestierschutzkommission (Federal Animal Welfare Commission) Through our involvement in the Animal Welfare Commission at the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL), we have the opportunity to comment in advance on all animal welfare-related drafts of the Federal Ministry and to raise current issues and incidents at the highest level. Learn more

ecopa The main objective of ecopa (European Consensus Platform for Alternatives) is to promote the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in research, risk assessment and education in Europe. In doing so, ecopa strives to achieve the common goals of all four stakeholders involved (ministries and authorities, science, industry and animal welfare organizations) by consensus. Learn more

EUSAAT We are a member of the advisory board of EUSAAT (European Society for Alternatives to Animal Testing), which promotes the dissemination of alternative methods to animal testing and organizes the international alternative methods congress in Linz, Austria. Learn more

FN (Animal Welfare Advisory Board of the German Equestrian Federation The advisory board "Fachbeirat Tierschutz der Deutschen Reiterlichen Vereinigung (FN)" (Animal Welfare Advisory Board of the German Equestrian Federation) is made up of equine experts from the fields of science, practical veterinary medicine, husbandry, training and animal welfare, as well as FN association representatives. Current animal welfare issues are discussed at regular meetings, such as the revision of the guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) on husbandry and sport. Learn more

Preiskuratorium für BMEL-Tierschutz-Forschungspreis We are a member of the "Preiskuratorium für BMEL-Tierschutz-Forschungspreis" (Board of Trustees of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture) for the annual Animal Welfare Research Prize to promote methodological work on the reduction and replacement of animal experiments. The prize is awarded for innovative scientific work that contributes to replacing animal experiments, reducing their number, improving the conditions under which animals are kept in the laboratory or reducing pain, suffering or harm in experiments. Learn more

set The German Animal Welfare Federation holds the deputy chairmanship of the foundation board of the "Stiftung zur Förderung von Ersatz- und Ergänzungsmethoden zur Einschränkung von Tierversuchen" (Foundation for the Promotion of Alternative and Complementary Methods for the Restriction of Animal Experiments)(set). Among other things, the foundation supports scientific projects in which animal-free methods are (further) developed. Representatives from animal welfare, science, industry and politics sit on the foundation council, advisory board and board of trustees. Another important task of set is to promote communication between science, industry and authorities. Learn more

Tierschutzbeiräte (Animal welfare councils) We are represented in the animal welfare advisory councils of most federal states through our state associations, and where possible, e.g. Bavaria and Lower Saxony, we are also represented on the relevant advisory councils in addition to the state association. Among other things, this allows us to influence decisions made by the Bundesrat, and it is possible to drive forward trend-setting decrees at state level. Through this cooperation, numerous animal welfare initiatives of nationwide importance have already been set in motion. Learn more

Transparency International Deutschland e.V. Transparency International is committed to fighting corruption effectively and sustainably. From 2014 to 2019, Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, was a member of the Advisory Board. In addition, the German Animal Welfare Federation supports the " Initiative Transparente Zivilgesellschaft (ITZ)" (Transparent Civil Society Initiative) launched by Transparency and meets its standards. Learn more

Magazine TIERethik We support the scientific journal "TIERethik", which takes a critical look at aspects of the human-animal relationship. Learn more

ZKL (Future Commission for Agriculture) The "Zukunftskommission (ZKL)" (Commission on the Future of Agriculture) is an advisory body to the German government that was convened in 2020 with the task of developing recommendations for sustainable agriculture. Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Peter Strohschneider, 32 representatives from agriculture, business, consumer protection, the environment, animal welfare and science work on the commission. Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, was appointed as one of the members of the Future Commission by the Federal Government. Learn more

Exemplary committee work in the federal states

Bavaria

Jury member of the " Bayerischen Tierwohl-Preises für landwirtschaftliche Nutztierhalter" (Bavarian Animal Welfare Award for agricultural livestock farmers), awarded by the Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry

Lower Saxony

"Niedersächsische Nutztierstrategie – Tierschutzplan 4.0" (Lower Saxony Farm Animal Strategy - Animal Welfare Plan 4.0), by German Animal Welfare Federation Lower Saxony e. V.

Schleswig-Holstein

Animal task force for seabird rescue in cooperation with the "Landesbetrieb für Küstenschutz, Nationalpark und Meeresschutz" (State Agency for Coastal Protection, National Park and Marine Conservation) and the THW (Tönning, Eckernförde)
"Arbeitskreis Seehunde Schleswig-Holstein" (Schleswig-Holstein seal working group), annual participation of the German Animal Welfare Federation (observer status)

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Transparency

Animal keeper squats on a meadow at the Weidefeld Animal Welfare Center and feeds 3 raccoons

Vision & Mission

Dog Rocky on a walk in a green meadow with his groomer.

Facilities