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Agriculture Minister Julia Klöckner (CDU) has announced that she wants to educate more about dubious dog sellers on the Internet.
The minister hopes that this will curb the illegal puppy trade.
"With an information offensive, we want to put a stop to criminal machinations," said Klöckner to the editorial network Germany (RND).
An industry agreement for the digital sales platforms with clearer rules for the online offer of animals is in progress in order to better identify dubious providers.
Klöckner also appealed to dog owners to be aware of their responsibility.
Before buying an animal, you have to find out more - including "where the animal came from and how it was raised".
Animal welfare organization criticizes measures as "completely inadequate"
The announcement was made by Klöckner shortly before the handover of a petition from the animal welfare organization Vier Pfoten against online puppy trade.
Four paws, however, considers Klöckner's measures to be completely inadequate.
Apart from a publicity campaign and the initiation of a voluntary industry agreement, Klöckner's ministry has not done anything worth mentioning, said Daniela Schneider, campaign manager for pets at Vier Pfoten, the RND.
Illegal puppy trafficking is also an aspect of the coalition agreement.
Unfortunately, "very little" has happened here.
From an animal welfare perspective, Klöckner missed an opportunity.
The next federal government must now regulate online trade in animals.
In a petition to Klöckner's ministry, which is due to be handed over on Wednesday, the animal welfare organization calls for the identification of all animal sellers on all online platforms and a ban on the sale of animals via social media - animal shelters excluded.
Over 114,000 people have signed the petition.
With the voluntary industry solution, in which the ministry is involved, however, it cannot be ensured that the criminals do not look for ways on the other platforms or in social media, Schneider told the RND.
lmd / AFP