Tierheim Kirchasch sounds the alarm: "At some point we will run over animals"

The Erdinger Tierschutzverein sounds the alarm: Because of the Corona crisis, the placement of animals is complicated.

There is a lack of animal lovers, who can provide a home, and financial donations.

Kirchasch

- There are three rats in Kirchasch.

Don't worry, it's about the animal shelter there and not about uninvited guests in a private house.

The Erdinger Tierschutzverein does not find it easy to find small rodents.

But Alexandra Wenelken and her colleagues are also currently struggling with more cute animals.

Corona makes animal placement complicated.

The search for families for the animals is difficult due to Corona.

"I think our three rat girls are very nice," advertises Wendelken.

She hopes for special animal lovers.

The search for new families for “their” animals has already become more difficult due to Corona.

The chairwoman made this clear in an interview with our newspaper.

Another problem: The willingness to donate has decreased in the pandemic.

"It has become less," says Wendelken.

Many people would have lost short-time work or even their job, the 47-year-old explains this fact.

"What we also lack: We cannot hold events where we can draw attention to ourselves."

A big problem for the placement is the fact that public visiting times have been canceled due to the corona - Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Just drop in with the family at the animal shelter spontaneously at the weekend and inspect the cute critters, get advice from the staff.

All that is currently missing.

Visits to the shelter only in pairs and only by arrangement

Visits to the animal shelter are still possible, but only by prior appointment and with a maximum of two people.

It has already happened that more people have come than allowed.

"You then had to stay outside," reports Wendelken,

The organization of appointments at hourly intervals is actually going very well - by e-mail or by phone.

Visitors also come during the week.

Only: their number has declined overall.

“At some point we will overflow with animals,” says the chairwoman of the animal welfare association, but she remembers even more difficult times when the home was literally bursting at the seams.

"The number of animals always depends on what is coming in," explains Wendelken.

It was “very extreme” in summer, when people were busy going on vacation in times of relaxation - and wanted to get rid of some of their animals.

"We miss the walk-in customers."

"We miss the walk-in customers," says Wendelken and means that. She refers to visitors who, while spontaneously strolling through the home, also say: "Man, I actually didn't want a cat anymore, but that one is so beautiful!"

"So far we have somehow still been able to convey all animals, but it is already more difficult", summarizes Wendelken.

There are currently around 30 to 40 cats in the Kirchasch animal shelter, plus twelve rabbits, five dogs, five to six mice, four guinea pigs and the aforementioned three rats.

In addition to the animal shelter, there are foster homes and a wildlife sanctuary.

However, there are many more animals under the care of the animal protection association.

For example the four dog care centers, including the third chairwoman Angelika Schöner in Kirchberg.

There are currently two mother dogs living there with a total of 15 puppies.

According to Wendelken, there are also four to five foster homes for cats and Michaela Maier's “Wild Children's Room” in Walpertskirchen, a sanctuary primarily for hedgehogs, wild birds and squirrels.

A large number of cats live at Wendelken's home in Erding.

The office clerk and her husband Maik, who is responsible for public relations at the association, have 13 cats.

They adopted five of them from the shelter.

None of the 13 can be conveyed, the cat lover clarifies with a smile.

Willingness to donate has clearly decreased.

Overall, the willingness to donate has clearly decreased, but Wendelken remembers one very special donation case.

The animal rights activists asked for bedding to be used for puppies suffering from diarrhea.

In order not to break the washing machine, the sheets had to be thrown away instead of washed every time.

"We were literally bombarded with bed linen," reports Wendelken enthusiastically.

An example of helpfulness is the relationship with the sanctuary of the Munich Animal Welfare Association, which is located right next to the animal shelter in Kirchasch.

You support each other, for example if the animal shelter has a lot of food left over or vice versa.

Then you like to bring something over to the neighbor.

The animal care

of the Erdinger Tierschutzverein is located at the Jagdhaus 3 not far from Kirchasch.

It can be reached on Tel. (0 81 22) 9 59 75 00 or by email to kontakt@tierheim-erding.de.

More information at www.tierschutzverein-erding.de.

Dramatic collapse in customer numbers due to Corona and significantly fewer passengers: Many valet service companies in the northern district of Erding fear for their existence.