The German Animal Welfare Federation today honored Stephanie Badura from Brandenburg with the German Animal Welfare Award. In "Stevie's Hundesenioren-Hospiz", Badura cares for and accompanies old and seriously ill dogs and gives them a loving home in their last months and weeks. The award for lifetime achievement in animal welfare went to pigeon conservationist Gudrun Stürmer from Frankfurt. In the special category "Wildlife Aid", the jury honored four exemplary award winners who are committed to helping raccoons, dormice, birds of prey and other wild animals. As partners of the German Animal Welfare Award, the Whiskas and Pedigree brands donated the prize money totaling 7,000 euros. The readers' prize of 1,000 euros from the magazines FUNK UHR and Super TV was awarded to Rosita Schumacher, who looks after the cats at the animal shelter in Andernach. The German Animal Welfare Award honors people who work passionately and often quietly for animals on a daily basis.
"The award winners, who were selected by the jury from over 500 applications for the German Animal Welfare Award, deserve the greatest respect. Their commitment gives us courage and strength at the same time. Without these personalities, who are often there for those who have no voice themselves, often at their own sacrifice, our republic would be poorer. Our award winners this year are also representative of many people and projects in Germany who are indispensable for practical animal protection," said Thomas Schröder, President of the German Animal Welfare Federation.
Many well-known names from politics, music and television took the opportunity to express their appreciation to the award winners at the gala. Federal Animal Welfare Commissioner Ariane Kari thanked all animal welfare activists and especially the award winners for their "self-sacrificing and important work" and emphasized in her welcoming address: "Practical animal welfare thrives on the commitment of volunteers who work with the greatest passion for the welfare of our fellow creatures. Let us join forces and raise our voices, because we owe animals justice." As a jury member and animal welfare ambassador for the German Animal Welfare Federation, Stefanie Hertel was once again responsible for selecting the award winners and gave a laudatory speech on stage. Maren Gilzer and Falk-Willy Wild also honored the award winners as laudators. Sonya Kraus hosted the evening for around 250 guests in the Berlin Meistersaal. The musical program was provided by the band Jonah and singer Enkelson.
GERMAN ANIMAL WELFARE AWARD FOR DOG SENIOR HOSPICE
Stephanie Badura and her association "Stevie's Hundesenioren-Hospiz" were delighted to receive this year's German Animal Welfare Award and prize money of 4,000 euros. Badura lives with her partner on a 110-year-old farm in Heideblick, Brandenburg, which they have converted into a dog-friendly home themselves. Badura currently looks after 15 dogs and provides intensive, round-the-clock care for the special needs of the old and sick four-legged friends. This includes administering medication several times a day as well as putting together special food. The animal rights activist also provides close support and care for ten other dogs living in the association's foster homes. "Stephanie Badura has dedicated her life to her dogs. All her heart and soul and money goes into the project. She does everything she can to give the dogs a good rest of their lives," emphasized Animal Welfare Federation President Thomas Schröder in his laudatory speech.
PIGEON CONSERVATIONIST FROM FRANKFURT HONORED FOR HER LIFE'S WORK
Gudrun Stürmer received this year's award for lifetime achievement in animal welfare, endowed with 1,000 euros, for her decades of commitment. 41 years ago, Stürmer launched the "Frankfurt City Pigeon Project". She looks after pigeon lofts, safe retreats where the pigeons receive food and water. At the same time, pigeon eggs can be exchanged for dummies there, preventing the population from growing any further. Stürmer also takes care of injured and distressed pigeons on a life farm. She informs and educates, raises awareness among children and young people and does not shy away from legal disputes in the fight for pigeons. She is also highly regarded nationwide as a contact person for pigeon protection. "Stürmer is indispensable for the protection of pigeons in the Rhine-Main region: a persistent advocate who raises public awareness and stands up for the animals," emphasized Falk-Willy Wild in his laudatory speech.
SPECIAL CATEGORY FOR WILDLIFE AID
"Wild animals are exposed to many man-made dangers. Road traffic, barbed wire, poison, hunting, food shortages and habitat destruction due to increasing settlement are serious threats. Nevertheless, hardly anyone feels responsible for injured or orphaned wild animals. It is the volunteer-run rescue centers and foster homes that take care of these animals, nurture them and prepare them for reintroduction into the wild. Their selfless commitment is valuable and indispensable," praised Stefanie Hertel in her laudatory speech. On behalf of the many animal welfare activists involved in wildlife conservation, the prize in this year's special category "Wildlife Aid" went to four winners. Dirk Sindhu runs the Bergische Greifvogelhilfe - a rescue center for injured birds of prey and owls in Rösrath - on a voluntary basis. Stefanie Kruse from Idstein in the German state of Hesse looks after the breeding and care of small wild animals, especially dormice such as dormice and garden dormice. Veterinarian Dr. Mathilde Laininger from the "Hauptsache Waschbär" association in Berlin is personally and financially committed to raccoons and cares for distressed and sick animals. The "Wildlife Center - Care and Species Protection" in Saarburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, takes in over 2,000 sick, injured or orphaned wild animals from around 60 different species every year in order to make them fit for a life in freedom again. To support their work, the winners each received prize money of 500 euros.
READER AWARD HONORS CAT CARER FROM ANDERNACH
Rosita Schumacher has been volunteering at the Andernach animal shelter for years to ensure the well-being of the cats and other shelter residents. Through her frequent presence and endless patience, she even manages to win the trust of particularly timid felines. The readers of the magazines FUNK UHR and Super TV selected Schumacher as the winner by a large majority from a total of five projects nominated for the readers' award. "Animal welfare needs people like Rosita Schumacher. People who take their time and give the animals time. People who give abandoned animals the chance to regain their trust," said Maren Gilzer in her laudatory speech.
