As of: January 26, 2024, 5:11 p.m
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In the Leipzig animal shelter, a fear-aggressive female German Shepherd attacks another dog.
© Waltraud Grubitzsch/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa/archive image
The animal shelters in Saxony have been full for years.
Adopting many young cats is still easy.
But there are problems with large, vicious dogs.
Leipzig - The large number of dangerous dogs is pushing the animal shelters in Saxony to their limits.
Since the corona pandemic, the number of dogs in animal shelters has increased by 25 percent, said Michael Sperlich from the Saxony State Animal Protection Association.
Too many people have noticed that they are overwhelmed with training and keeping dogs.
The only way out is to leave the animals to the animal shelter.
“What is particularly problematic is the increase in the number of dogs in dangerous cases,” explained Sperlich, who is also the head of the Leipzig animal shelter.
These are animals that have become conspicuous several times due to their behavior or even bites.
In Leipzig alone, the largest animal shelter in Saxony, half of the approximately 70 dogs housed are in such a procedure.
“It is extremely difficult to adopt such dogs.
Who would want a dog like that?
This requires owners with expertise,” explained Sperlich.
Dealing with these animals is not easy for his employees either.
The costs for special training would explode.
According to the State Animal Welfare Association, the situation is somewhat more relaxed for cats.
However, the animal shelters are still very busy caring for the cats.
“At the moment there are even kittens being adopted.
“That would have been unthinkable a few years ago,” explained Sperlich.
It is therefore helpful that the Free State covers 90 percent of the costs of castrating the male cats.
However, there is still a lack of a nationwide cat protection regulation, emphasized Sperlich.
“Then private cats that spend time outside would have to be sterile and marked.” This would prevent uncontrolled reproduction.
dpa