The German Animal Welfare Federation has reacted with great concern to the recent case of rabies in a dog housed in a German animal shelter. The incident dramatically highlights the danger of illegal and unscrupulous animal imports. In a letter to Federal Minister Alois Rainer, the German Animal Welfare Federation draws attention to the risks as well as the resulting burden on animal shelters. On behalf of its 750 affiliated animal welfare associations and 550 animal shelters, the German Animal Welfare Federation is calling on the federal government to take measures to regulate the inadequately regulated animal trade and to improve the situation of animal shelters in the long term.
“The current case of rabies is an urgent wake-up call,” explains Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation. “The danger posed by illegal and dubious animal imports is not a theoretical one, but a very real threat to human and animal health. At the same time, animal shelters, which are already overburdened, are confronted with confiscated animals from illegal trade and animals from dubious foreign animal welfare organizations. Germany must not rest on its existing regulations. The federal government must act decisively and promptly.”
Among other things, the German Animal Welfare Federation is calling for strict regulation of online trade in animals, a requirement for private animal owners to have specialist knowledge, further import regulations, and the immediate provision of additional funds for animal shelters. The association also advocates resuming the work of the round table on the situation of animal shelters initiated by the previous Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner.
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY ILLEGAL ANIMAL TRADE AND UNSCUPULOUS ADOPTION PRACTICES
Dogs and cats from breeding farms abroad are often imported far too young and without the necessary vaccinations and papers. The puppies, most of which are sick, are distributed to German animal shelters after being confiscated by the authorities. Animals brought to Germany from abroad by dubious associations and handed over directly to their new owners also often become a burden for local animal shelters: if there is no quarantine and the animal and human cannot get to know each other in advance, some animals turn out to be sick or display undesirable behavior after placement. If the placement organizations then shirk their responsibility, animal shelters are the only places that will take care of the animals.
Note to editors: The letter with the German Animal Welfare Federation's key demands can be found here.
The German Animal Welfare Federation has compiled a position paper on what people should look out for when adopting a dog or cat from abroad. To support animal welfare associations that are active in animal welfare abroad, the association has published the handbook “Straßentieren im Ausland effektiv helfen” (Effectively helping street animals abroad). It contains valuable information – from local assistance and legal principles to health and behavioral issues relating to animals from animal welfare abroad.
