During the holiday season: Anyone who abandons their pet risks a fine of 25,000 euros
Created: 07/31/2022, 3:00 p.m
By: Jasmine Farah
For many, the summer holidays are the best time of the year.
Not so for some pets.
If they interfere, they will be abandoned.
This could get expensive.
Many people look forward to spending free time with their loved ones in summer.
After all, vacation time is also the time of year when you can just relax and drive away.
However, if you have pets at home, you have to think about what should happen to your dog, cat and co. in the meantime.
Some have acquaintances or family members who look after their four-legged friends during the summer holidays, others give them to a dog boarding house or even to an animal shelter for a short time.
Of course, it's even nicer if you find a hotel or accommodation where you can take your pet with you.
Holiday season: Anyone who abandons their pet risks a fine
Unfortunately, there are still enough pet owners who don't make timely decisions about where to house their loved ones.
Like, for example, a couple who wanted to give away their cat via eBay just before they left.
Basically, the holiday season is a test for pets and their owners.
Often with fatal consequences, because many animals are still abandoned in the supposedly most beautiful time of the year.
Some dog owners abandon their animals on the street at the start of the holiday season.
With expensive consequences.
(Iconic image) © Milestone Media/Imago
As reported by the Hamburg Animal Welfare Association, more than 300 animals were found in the Hamburg city area in the summer months of July and August 2014 alone and brought to the association's animal shelter.
So it's no wonder that animal shelters in many places have been sounding the alarm for years and are said to be completely overwhelmed.
It is not uncommon to see dogs tied up next to the motorway or sitting on the street.
This is not only irresponsible on the part of the pet owners, but also a criminal offence.
Holiday season: Anyone who abandons their pet risks a fine
According to Section 3, Paragraph 3 of the Animal Welfare Act (TierSchG), it is forbidden to release or leave an animal kept in the house, company or otherwise in the care of humans in order to get rid of it or to evade the obligation to keep or look after it.
This also applies when overwhelmed pet owners "mean well" and drop off their darling right in front of the animal shelter.
The exposure is considered an administrative offense, which is why a hefty fine is threatened.
According to § 18 Abs.1 Nr.4 TierSchG it is punished with up to 25,000 euros.
If the animal is harmed or even killed as a result of the release, it is a criminal offense according to § 17 TierSchG.
Willful cruelty to animals is punished, which is why the animal owner can even face a prison sentence of up to three years in this case.
In order to help overwhelmed pet owners, there are already a number of hotline numbers circulating online that you can contact anonymously and that provide detailed advice on how to avoid an emergency.
