FAQs on the German Animal Welfare Award
The German Animal Welfare Award was presented for the first time in 2005 and since then has been awarded every year to people, associations or initiatives that put their heart and soul into helping animals. The award, which is unique in Germany, is presented by the German Animal Welfare Federation together with the brands "Pedigree" and "Whiskas" and, since 2024, with the new media partner "Ein Herz für Tiere" in various categories at a major animal welfare gala in Berlin. As part of the jury, Stefanie Hertel, animal welfare ambassador for the German Animal Welfare Federation, helps to select the winners.
The German Animal Welfare Award will be presented this year on November 22, 2024 at a gala ceremony in Berlin.
Committed volunteers, associations or initiatives can be nominated for the award or apply themselves.
From the start of the application period, proposals can be submitted via an online form at www.tierschutzbund.de/bewerbung-tierschutzpreis.
The application should clearly state what makes the proposed person's special commitment or which extraordinary projects or focal points make an association or animal welfare initiative particularly worthy of an award.
The closing date for entries this year is May 31, 2024.
The award winners are selected in several rounds. In the summer, a shortlist is determined by the jury, who are first asked to provide information about themselves and are also visited on site by our experts. In September, the award winners are chosen and notified.
The jury's multi-stage selection process is based on a list of criteria consisting of exclusion criteria and decision criteria. For example, a nomination can only be considered in the further selection process if the animal welfare work is unpaid or voluntary, the nominee can identify with the goals and mission statement of the German Animal Welfare Federation or has the necessary expertise for the animal welfare work carried out - i.e., if required, a certificate of expertise in accordance with Section 11 of the German Animal Welfare Act. The following criteria also support the jury in its decision-making process:
- Transparency
- Special commitment
- Effectiveness & relevance
- Sustainability & continuity
- Innovation
- Network & Radiance
- Role model effect & change in values
The following aspects are also taken into account in the overall decision: thematic diversity, regional distribution and age or duration of involvement in the life's work
In addition to the German Animal Welfare Award 2024, prizes will be awarded in the categories "Lifetime Achievement", "Audience Award" and "Voice for the Animals". The jury reserves the right to designate a special category in special cases.
