The German Animal Welfare Federation and its Schleswig-Holstein regional association are supporting the Schleswig-Holstein cat neutering campaign in the fall: from October 17, street cats can once again be neutered free of charge in participating municipalities. Provided the funds are not used up earlier, the campaign will run until November 14.
“The fall campaign has never been as important as it is this year,” says Ellen Kloth, Chairwoman of the Schleswig-Holstein regional association of the German Animal Welfare Federation. “The animal shelters in Schleswig-Holstein took in more found cats - including kittens and young animals - over the summer than they have done for years. The animal shelters are overcrowded with kittens. Apparently many outdoor cats have not been neutered and have reproduced with free-roaming street cats. We therefore appeal to all cat owners to have their animals neutered, identified and registered. This is the only way to get the cat glut and cat misery under control.” Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation, adds: “The accommodation and care of young cats presents animal shelters with a major challenge year after year. The sudden increase in often weak or sick animals means less space, more work and costs as well as great concern for the young creatures. Only the neutering of street cats as comprehensively as possible in combination with the consistent neutering of outdoor cats can lead to decreasing populations in the long term.”
The service in Schleswig-Holstein is primarily aimed at animal welfare organizations, but also at other people who bring in cats that have been found. In order for the cats to be neutered by a vet free of charge, the animals must have been caught in one of the participating municipalities. In addition, the person delivering the cat must confirm that it is a free-living animal and not an owner animal. After neutering, the cats are marked with a transponder with a microchip and registered with FINDEFIX, the pet register of the German Animal Welfare Federation. They must then be returned to the place where they were caught. Animal welfare organizations continue to care for them at feeding stations. More information on the campaign, a list of participating municipalities and all documents can be found on the websites of the state government and the Chamber of Veterinarians.
SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGNS
Since the start of the project in 2014, animal welfare campaigners have already carried out thirteen campaigns in Schleswig-Holstein together with the state and local authorities. The total number of animals neutered since the start of the project is around 23,700, of which around 60 percent are females and 40 percent males. The German Animal Welfare Federation is once again contributing a total of 10,000 euros to the two neutering campaigns in 2022, while its Schleswig-Holstein regional association is also contributing 7,000 euros.
