As of: March 27, 2024, 8:00 p.m
By: Sophie Kluß
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The new version of the Animal Protection Act is intended to close gaps.
But not all changes are met with enthusiasm.
Dachshunds and other pedigree dogs could be affected by a breeding ban.
According to the German Animal Welfare Association,
the first drafts to revise the Animal Welfare Act are
“disappointing”.
The only “minimal improvements” involve, among other things, torture breeding.
According to the
Association for the German Dog Industry (VDH
), “many of the proposed changes made there, such as the regulation of the online trade in animals or the action against the illegal puppy trade” are “sensible”, as is the action against cruel breeding.
But the imprecise requirements of the new animal protection law could also mean the end of numerous healthy dog breeds in Germany.
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One of the dog associations that sees their animals at risk as a result is the German Teckelklub 1888 eV. An online petition is therefore called for under the motto “The Teckel does not belong on any torture breeding list”.
When asked by Landtiere.de, Josef Ramacher, the President of the German Teckel Club, quotes from a message to the members of the DTK: “Our criticism is not directed against an update of the Animal Welfare Act, but rather against individual formulations of the draft law.
If adopted unchanged into the law, this could lead to the authorities that execute this law (veterinary offices of the districts and independent cities) being able to interpret the vague legal terms contained therein as they wish, i.e. in a much more excessive manner than the legislature originally intended .”
Ramacher also points out a possible consequence of the currently planned animal protection law: "Any displacement of organized breeders who submit to the breeding programs of their breeding clubs creates more market share for foreign dogs that were produced completely without any rules and thus real animal suffering."
Tormented breeding: Will the dachshund soon be banned in Germany?
In a sample letter to members of the Bundestag, the club warns of the consequences of a breeding ban: “It is also completely naive to conclude that a breeding ban in Germany would reduce the demand for pedigree dogs.
From now on, these would come from completely uncertain origins and uncontrolled propagation stations.
The implementation of this draft bill would achieve the opposite of what is intended.”
PETA,
on the other hand, clearly declares the dachshund to be a torture breed that often suffers from breed-related diseases and lifelong pain.
The animal rights organization therefore believes that buying a dachshund from breeding is wrong and advises friends of the breed to get their new best friend from the animal shelter instead.
In Berlin, dachshunds are causing a stir for another reason.
The Dachshund is considered a torture breed.
However, associations such as the German Teckel Club are committed to continually improving the dogs' health with a specified breeding program.
According to Josef Ramacher, the breeders' focus is on health, vitality and the presence of hunting abilities.
(Symbolic image) © Pond5 Images/Imago
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The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) sees it similarly.
“With the new regulations in the Animal Protection Act, we want to consistently protect animals from pain, suffering and damage,” a spokesman for the BMEL told
t-online
.
A new draft should therefore specify the ban on torture breeding, including with the help of a list that shows symptoms of torture breeding.
“However, the starting point is still the presence of pain, suffering or damage to the animals affected,” the spokesman continued.
However, it is not yet possible to talk about the details of the list.
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The only thing that is certain so far is that “animals that already exhibit torture breeding characteristics” can continue to be kept, “but they can no longer be used for breeding and they can no longer be exhibited,” according to
t-online
.
The new animal protection law is intended to protect future generations from the painful consequences of incorrect breeding.
At the same time, the spokesman for the BMEL is trying to reassure concerned breeders: “A ban on certain breeds is not planned or intended in the current draft, which of course also includes dachshunds.”
The
VDH
, however, is calling for a clear and scientifically based catalog of cruel breeding characteristics in order to improve the health and quality of life of the affected dog breeds.
In terms of procedure, however, “it makes more sense to exclude dogs that actually suffer from hereditary diseases of the skeletal system from breeding rather than simply banning them because of their size.” This is the only way to effectively combat cruel breeding.
But so far the only option left for the potentially endangered breeding associations is to wait for the new animal protection law.
You can find out here which other breeds live the longest besides the dachshund.