Shock in Braunschweig: Animals abandoned – who will help them now?

Shock in Braunschweig: Animals abandoned – who will help them now?

The coming together of humans and animals can often be a real adventure, but this relationship does not always bring joy. Tragically, there are always cases in which animals are abandoned, as was the case recently in Braunschweig. The Animal Welfare Association Braunschweig e.V. has reported several incidents to the public that make people think.

A shocking incident took place on Tuesday when a mixed breed dog was found tied up outside a pet store. Only a short time later, the animal welfare association even received reports about a male rabbit that had been placed in a box in Querum. One piece of paper simply said the word “Help.” The findings were alarming: the little creature was in poor general condition, had long claws and bad teeth, and was visibly frightened. Residents also reported that two young tomcats were thrown over a fence onto a property. Fortunately, witnesses were able to intervene quickly and take the cats to the animal shelter, where they are now being lovingly cared for.

Help for the four-legged friends

The Braunschweig animal shelter, which has been a home for homeless animals and animals in need since 1882, takes care of both the mixed-breed dog and the two tomcats as well as the rabbit. Here the animals receive temporary accommodation and the chance of a new home with medical care. The association is not only a place of refuge, but also a strong mouthpiece when it comes to investigating violations of animal and nature conservation law. The animal rescue service is also available to help animals and citizens around the clock, 365 days a year. Animal protection in Braunschweig goes far beyond rescuing and caring for animals - the association ensures that animal protection is taken seriously here.

But what does animal protection and animal welfare actually mean? The topic is being discussed intensively in Germany, with many wondering how the animals' specific needs can be implemented in practice. The approach of defining animal welfare using the Farm Animal Welfare Council's Five Freedoms is at the heart of the debate. For example, freedom from fear and stress or freedom from hunger and thirst are taken into account. At this point it becomes clear that animal protection is not only a moral issue, but also a social responsibility.

Public perception and responsibility

Current surveys show that animal welfare is increasingly important to consumers. According to a 2021 survey, around 50 percent of respondents could imagine paying more for meat products that were produced under ethical standards. Animals are part of our lives, and our treatment of them shows a lot about our values ​​as a society. The discussion about animal husbandry standards is being promoted by various organizations, including PETA and the German Animal Welfare Association, to create greater awareness and responsibility.

Although the number of animal experiments has fallen in recent years and animal protection is becoming more important for consumers, there is still a lot to be done. The issue of animal welfare requires continuous discussion and fundamental awareness-raising so that such repeated incidents of animal abandonment can be avoided in the future. How can we as a community help ensure that animals are no longer abandoned in emergency situations?