- Thomas Schröder confirmed in office as President
- Animal welfare activists pass resolution calling for help for animal shelters and implementation of government promises on animal welfare policy
At today's general meeting of the German Animal Welfare Federation in Bonn, the delegates of the member associations re-elected Thomas Schröder as President. Schröder has headed the umbrella organization since 2011. The General Assembly elected Ellen Kloth from Schleswig-Holstein, who was already active as a co-opted member of the Executive Committee, and Judith Schönenstein from Witten as new Vice Presidents. The previous Vice Presidents Dr. Brigitte Rusche and Renate Seidel were appointed Honorary Vice Presidents. Thomas Schröder and the entire General Assembly thanked both of them for their many years of commitment. Jürgen Plinz was re-elected as Treasurer. Simon Berghane was confirmed as representative of the Youth Council and is therefore also a member of the Executive Committee. In his opening speech, Animal Welfare Federation President Schröder emphasized the current plight of animal shelters in the face of political inaction. He also urged the coalition government to finally keep its animal welfare promises. The general meeting also addressed these issues in two resolutions.
"The social majority for more animal welfare is tangible. Nevertheless, the federal government is failing in animal welfare and is not taking a bold approach to urgent improvements in animal welfare. And it would be particularly tragic if, under a Grünen federal minister of all people, the light were to go out on practical animal welfare in the country," said Schröder.
After countless futile appeals to politicians to finally take action and secure animal welfare in the long term, animal welfare on the ground is often in danger of collapsing. In a resolution, the General Assembly of the German Animal Welfare Federation calls on the political decision-makers in municipalities and districts, the federal states and the federal government to live up to their responsibility and finally take action. The necessary measures include a pet protection ordinance which, for example, prescribes a certificate of competence for pet owners or the mandatory castration of outdoor cats. The trade in animals via the Internet must be stopped and the tasks performed by animal shelters must be reimbursed to the state and local authorities to cover costs. According to the animal rights activists, the consumer foundation promised in the coalition agreement must be implemented immediately in order to invest in the animal shelter infrastructure.
In a second petition, the general meeting referred to other animal welfare policy promises from the coalition agreement of the traffic light government that have not yet been implemented. The animal rights activists called for the reformulation of the Animal Welfare Act as the most urgent measure. The aim must be to significantly improve the protection of animals and not just regulate their use, as has been the case to date.
During the general meeting, three children and youth projects were also awarded the Adolf Hempel Youth Animal Welfare Prize for their special commitment.
ABOUT THE GERMAN ANIMAL WELFARE FEDERATION
The German Animal Welfare Federation is the largest animal welfare umbrella organization in Germany and Europe. It represents over 740 animal welfare associations with around 550 animal shelters and similar facilities. The federation fights against animal suffering and for improvements in animal welfare - whether in pet keeping, agriculture, research, for animals in zoos and circuses or in the wild. As an umbrella organization, the German Animal Welfare Federation also supports its local member associations directly: through direct financial aid in the millions, advisory services and donations in kind. In the run-up to the General Assembly, the federation also awarded a further five animal aid vans to member associations from all over Germany, bringing the total to 227.
