- Animal welfare: Animal shelters in Schleswig-Holstein at the limit
Animal Shelters in Schleswig-Holstein are at their limit, according to the German Animal Welfare Federation. There is no foreseeable end to this dire situation, said Ellen Kloth, chairperson of the state association. The costs of housing found animals are not fully reimbursed - municipalities typically cover only 50 percent of the costs. The rest is covered by donations.
According to Kloth, donations are not meant to support municipalities, but rather to fund the housing of wild animals, spaying/neutering of stray cats, and general animal welfare work. On the positive side, there are funding opportunities for repairs, purchases, and renovations of animal shelters in Schleswig-Holstein, as well as a statewide spaying/neutering campaign involving the state, municipalities, and the veterinary chamber.
Due to this campaign, the number of found cats had decreased before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kloth noted. However, this situation has dramatically changed in recent years. Currently, the permanent cat population in shelters ranges from 40 to 160 cats, depending on the size of the shelter. A significant reason for this is unspayed/neutered cats from private households breeding with stray cats.
Before online trading, summer was the peak season for animal shelters, said Kloth. Back then, dogs, cats, and small animals were mainly abandoned or given up before the holidays. However, online platforms have since created an entire industry around animal trading, leading to cases of "animal hoarding," where over 100 cats are kept in one household.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent rise in energy costs and inflation have also contributed to the current situation, according to Kloth. Many pet owners could no longer afford their pets, leading to animal shelters being at full capacity since 2022.
The German Animal Welfare Federation demands a cost-covering found animal reimbursement, averaging around 3 euros per inhabitant. Additionally, there should be a statewide cat protection regulation including a spaying/neutering requirement for stray cats and a registration requirement.
Kloth also advocates for a dog license for first-time dog owners, the ban of online animal trading, and the prohibition of puppy mills with clearly defined characteristics.
Despite the ongoing spaying/neutering campaign and available funding for repairs and renovations, the situation at the Animal shelters in Schleswig-Holstein remains critical, as they continue to house a high number of cats, from 40 to 160, due to uncontrolled breeding. The current situation, characterized by high pet abandonment rates and high energy costs, has resulted in animal shelters operating at full capacity since 2022.
To alleviate this pressure, the German Animal Welfare Federation is calling for a cost-covering reimbursement for found animals, implemented through a small fee per inhabitant, as well as stricter regulations for stray cats and puppy mills.
