Awards

German Animal Welfare Award

The German Animal Welfare Award is intended to honor people, initiatives and associations that are passionate and committed to animal welfare and at the same time help animals. The award is a joint initiative of the German Animal Welfare Federation, the Whiskas and Pedigree brands and the magazine "Ein Herz für Tiere". At a festive gala in Berlin, prizes in the categories "Lifetime achievement", "Voice for the animals" and "Audience award" will be presented in addition to the German Animal Welfare Award, which is unique in Germany.

Award winners 2023

1st prize: Stephanie Badura with her association "Stevie's Hundesenioren-Hospiz“(Stevies's Senior dog hospice)
The Brandenburg native from Heideblick has dedicated her life to old and sick dogs, which she cares for on her specially converted dog-friendly farm.

Together with her partner, Stefanie looks after 15 dogs around the clock, who need medication and special food several times a day. Another 10 dogs live in foster homes run by the association.

Award for lifetime achievement in animal welfare: Gudrun Stürmer for the "Stadttaubenprojekt Frankfurt" (Frankfurt City Pigeon Project)
In the project, which Stürmer founded 41 years ago, she looks after pigeon lofts and safe retreats where the pigeons receive food and water. At the same time, pigeon eggs can be exchanged for dummies to prevent the population from growing further.

Animal_welfare_award_2023_Lebenswerk_Gudrun_Stuermer_c_City_pigeon_project_Frankfurt_eV.jpg — Gudrun Stürmer also looks after injured and distressed pigeons on a farm. She informs and educates, raises awareness among children and young people and does not shy away from legal disputes in her fight for the pigeons.

Animal welfare award winner Dirk Sindhu lets an owl fly. — Special category for wildlife aid: Dirk Sindhu and Bergische Greifvogelhilfe
Dirk Sindhu runs the Bergische Greifvogelhilfe - a rescue center for injured birds of prey and owls in Rösrath - on a voluntary basis.

Special category for wildlife aid: Stefanie Kruse from Idstein (Hesse)
Stefanie Kruse from Idstein is privately involved in the rearing and care of small wild animals, especially dormice such as dormice and garden dormice.

Animal_welfare_award_2023_Wildtierhilfe_Quarantaenestation_Waschbaeren_c_Dr._Mathilde_Laininger__5_.JPG — Special category for wildlife aid: Dr. Mathilde Laininger from the "Hauptsache Waschbär" association
Veterinarian Dr. Mathilde Laininger from Berlin is personally and financially committed to helping raccoons and cares for needy and sick animals.

Special category for wildlife aid: The "Wildtierzentrum – Pflege und Artenschutz"(Wildlife Center - Care and Species Protection)
Every year, the Wildlife Center in Saarburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, takes in over 2,000 sick, injured or orphaned wild animals from around 60 different species in order to prepare them for a life in the wild.

Readers' Award: Rosita Schumacher
Rosita Schumacher has been volunteering at the Andernach animal shelter for years to ensure the well-being of the cats and other shelter residents. Thanks to her frequent presence and endless patience, she even manages to gain the trust of particularly timid felines.

Award winners of the last 5 years

2022

1st place: Herzensangelegenheit - Menschen für Tiere und Tiere für Menschen in Not e.V.
2nd place: Esel in Not e.V.
3rd place: Achtung für Tiere e. V. (life farm, youth work, political work: pony carousel)
Lifetime achievement: Marlene Steltner Lange (Verein Aktiver Tierschutz e.V.)
Special category "Ukraine-Hilfe": Frank Lauer, Tierretter Tierhilfe Camp in Medyka, Tierschutz Henstedt-Ulzburg e.V., Tierschutzverein Berlin und Umgebung e.V.
Readers' Award: Sabine Eck Die Seelentröster - Tiere helfen Menschen e.V.

2021

1st prize: Freital Animal Welfare Association led by association chairwoman Regina Barthel-Marr
2nd prize: Dr. Renate Keil (bats)
3rd prize: Sina and Yara Marchioni (street cats)
Lifetime achievement: Ewald Ferlemann
Special category "Flood relief": Bundesverband Gemeinschaft Deutscher Tierrettungsdienste e.V., Tierheim u. Tierschutzverein Kreis Ahrweiler e.V. am Standort Remagend, Tierschutzverein Andernach u.U. e.V. g
Readers' Award: Simone Staatz / Tierschutzhof Familie Staatz

2021

1st prize: "Düsseldorfer Streetdogs" project of the Tierhilfe Streuner & Co e.V. association
2. 2nd prize: Jaqueline Gräfe / Eichhörnchen Notruf e.V.
3rd prize: Greifvogelauffangstation Fürth
Lifetime achievement: Andrea Rücker
Special category "Animals with a handicap": IG Blinde Pferde e.V., De Hun'nenhoff Foundation, Hürdenwellies e.V.
Readers' Prize: Merwel Otto-Link / Hedgehog Care Rotenburg/Wümme

2019

1st prize: Dogman Tierhilfe e.V.
2nd prize: "TiNa macht Schule"
3rd prize: Carola Mälzer / Tierschutzverein Güstrow
Lifetime achievement: Bruno Steder
Special category "Tiertafeln": Frankfurter TierTafel e.V. , Notnasen-Hilfe Genthin
Reader prize: Tiernothilfe Nord e.V. from Soltau

2018

1st prize: Ann-Catrin Schmidt
2nd prize: Dr. Susanne Schmidt (Wildtierauffang- und Pflegestation Cottbus-Skadow e.V.)
3rd prize: Airliner4Animals e.V.
Lifetime achievement: Gudrun Lumpp
Special category: Pigeon protection

Adolf Hempel Prize for Children & Young People

Vier Mädchen halten sich Arm in Arm und schauen in die Kamera — The "Adolf Hempel Youth Animal Protection Prize" is awarded in the "Group" category and the "Individual" category.

The Adolf Hempel Prize is awarded to projects by children and young people who are committed to animal welfare and implement their own ideas and projects. Groups of children and young people with at least six people, for example school clubs, school classes or youth animal protection groups, as well as individuals, can apply. People up to the age of 20 are eligible to take part. The prize is endowed with a total of 2,500 euros.

Applications are currently not possible.