Award winners from Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg and Thüringen
Today the German Animal Welfare Federation honored the Argenhof, an animal sanctuary in Amtzell, Baden-Württemberg, with the German Animal Welfare Award. Animals that would not have a chance anywhere else and are sometimes threatened with euthanasia find a loving home here. In the “Voice for the Animals” category, the award went to content creator and animal rights activist Malte Zierden, who works on animal rescue missions in war and crisis zones, educates people about animal suffering on social media and raises awareness of abuses. Dr. Ingrid Röschke from Eisenach in Thuringia received the German Animal Welfare Award in the “Lifetime Achievement” category for her many years of commitment to hedgehogs and wild birds. The Audience Award went to Nagezahn Castle in Werneuchen, Brandenburg, which provides a home for rodents and rabbits in need and carries out important educational work. The German Animal Welfare Award honors people who work passionately for animals on a daily basis. As partners of the German Animal Welfare Award, the Whiskas and Pedigree brands and the magazine “Ein Herz für Tiere” donate the prize money totaling 15,000 euros.
“The award winners, who were selected by the jury from over 500 applications for the German Animal Welfare Award, have earned our greatest respect. Their commitment is encouraging and gives hope. Without these personalities, who are often there for those who have no voice themselves, often at their own sacrifice, our republic would be poorer. Our award winners this year are also representative of many people and projects that are indispensable for practical animal protection in Germany,” said Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation.
Many well-known personalities took the opportunity to express their appreciation to the award winners at the gala. Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Ariane Kari thanked the animal welfare activists who “achieve great things every day” and emphasized in her welcoming address: “I have all my respect and thanks for the award winners and they fill me with hope for a better future for our animal fellow creatures.” Aljosha Muttardi and Vanessa Tamkan honored the award winners with their laudatory speeches. Anastasia Zampounidis hosted the evening for around 250 guests at the Humboldt Carré in Berlin. Singer Leslie Clio provided the musical accompaniment.
German Animal Welfare Award for the Argenhof
Christiane Rohn and the team from Argenhof were delighted to receive this year's German Animal Welfare Award and prize money of 6,000 euros, donated by Whiskas and Pedigree. Rohn created a sanctuary for animals on seven and a half hectares near Amtzell in Baden-Württemberg 25 years ago. The animal welfare activists look after around 180 individuals, mainly horses and dogs with behavioral problems, who are given intensive dog training to help them overcome their insecurities, fears and aggression. But cats, goats, sheep, llamas, cattle, geese, ducks, chickens, pigs and various wild animals also live at the unique facility. The helpers bottle-raise orphaned or abandoned baby animals. “At the Argenhof, animals that have nowhere else to go find a loving home for life. Many of them get to experience for the very first time what it feels like to live together with people in mutual trust, respect and consideration,” said Animal Welfare Association President Thomas Schröder in his laudatory speech. Through cooperation with schools and social institutions, the Argenhof also becomes a meeting place that passes on the knowledge and values of animal welfare.
Malte Zierden raises his voice for the animals
In the new “Voice for the Animals” award category, the German Animal Welfare Award went to Malte Zierden from Hamburg. The popular content creator and animal welfare activist takes his social media community on animal rescue missions in war and crisis zones, raises awareness of animal suffering and sensitizes people to abuses. With moving videos, he contributes to a more compassionate human-animal relationship and greater social appreciation, including for despised or forgotten animals such as urban pigeons or disabled shelter animals. “Malte makes us understand that animals are individuals. He creates awareness for empathy. His commitment shows us that compassion should have no limits,” said Aljosha Muttardi in his laudatory speech.
Animal rights activist from Eisenach honored for her life's work
Dr. Ingrid Röschke has been awarded the German Animal Welfare Prize for her decades of commitment to animal welfare. The retired biology teacher, who lives in Eisenach, has been caring for wild birds and hedgehogs in her private care home for almost 40 years. This is now known far beyond the borders of the state. Every year, Röschke expertly and lovingly nurses almost a thousand animals. She never tires of raising awareness of the dangers posed to native wild animals by robotic lawnmowers and poisons. As Röschke was unable to accept the award in person in Berlin, jury member Stefanie Hertel surprised her at home in Thuringia. The singer and animal welfare ambassador for the German Animal Welfare Federation emphasized: “Dr. Ingrid Röschke does a great job. Animal welfare is truly lived in her foster home.” The award in the “Lifetime achievement” category is endowed with 3,000 euros, donated by Whiskas and Pedigree.
Animal welfare community chooses Burg Nagezahn as the winner
Burg Nagezahn from Werneuchen in Brandenburg came out on top in an online vote: The Lebenshof received the 3,000 euro Audience Award, donated by “Ein Herz für Tiere”. Founded almost ten years ago, Natascha Junker and Rico Gürtler are home to around 70 rescued chinchillas, degus, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and hamsters. They live in generously designed habitats tailored to their needs. “Burg Nagezahn is a safe, even royal fortress for rodents and rabbits. Here their physical and mental injuries are healed, here the animals are finally allowed to live in a species-appropriate way,” emphasized laudator Vanessa Tamkan. As small pets are also a great responsibility, which is often underestimated, the team at Burg Nagezahn travels all over Germany with information stands and tries to educate people online about the needs of small pets.
In addition to Burg Nagezahn, other nominees in the “Audience Award” category were Claudia Hennig from Saxony-Anhalt for her commitment to old, sick and unplaceable dogs, the Salzachtal cat rescue organization from Bavaria, the Weinheim fawn rescue team in Baden-Württemberg and the Bad Dürkheim wild bird rescue organization in Rhineland-Palatinate.
