The Schleswig-Holstein state parliament today unanimously adopted the motion “State-wide cat protection ordinance - now!” by the SPD, FDP, SSW, CDU and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, which was only published yesterday. The cat protection ordinance for Schleswig-Holstein is to include a neutering, identification and registration obligation for outdoor cats. The motion also provides for the successful state-wide neutering project for street cats to be continued. The German Animal Welfare Federation comments on this:
Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation: “Today's decision is a great success for cat protection. Schleswig-Holstein is taking action and showing what is possible when people pull together to protect cats. The premature end of the traffic light coalition also meant the end of a possible nationwide neutering obligation for outdoor cats; the future federal government will then be responsible for this. This makes it all the more important for the federal states to set a good example. The suffering of street cats is not a regional problem, but a nationwide one that can only be solved across the board.”
Ellen Kloth, Chairwoman of the Schleswig-Holstein state association and Vice President of the German Animal Welfare Association: “Today, we have taken a significant step towards reducing the suffering of stray cats living in the wild. It is particularly pleasing that the motion was adopted unanimously across all parliamentary groups. The nationwide cat neutering campaign must be maintained at all costs. It is an essential pillar in curbing the population of free-roaming cats. The second pillar is the cat protection ordinance with the obligation to neuter outdoor cats. We now hope that the state parliament's decision will be implemented swiftly.”
