Declining income, higher costs and more and more animals: the problems are piling up in animal shelters. Some might not survive the winter.
Ingelheim/Kirn/Trier (dpa/lhe) – In the Rhineland-Palatinate animal shelters, the view of the future is bleak. “The situation is dramatic, there are many problems,” said the chairman of the animal welfare association, Andreas Lindig, in Trier. For example, income had already been lost during the corona-related lockdowns, since no festivals could be held. Given the economic situation, donations are currently declining – at the same time, inflation, the veterinary fees that were increased this autumn and the statutory minimum wage are causing significantly higher expenses. Many animal shelters do not have a financial cushion, and the energy requirements for the often old buildings and the reptile terrariums are usually high.
According to Lindig, the situation is aggravated by the fact that more and more animals are being handed over to homes. In addition, the number of dogs with behavioral problems has been increasing there for years, which require complex and expensive treatment before they can be placed in a new home. There are a total of 24 animal shelters in Rhineland-Palatinate that are affiliated with the German Animal Welfare Association. Some of them are already full. In addition, the animal shelter in Kirn (Bad Kreuznach district) will close in January next year because it has to clear its premises.
At least one other animal shelter is on the brink for economic reasons. “We don’t know if we’ll get through the next few months,” said Thomas Geyer from the affected animal shelter in Ingelheim. The animal shelter is fully occupied, and recently an increasing number of sick animals have been given away, probably because of the increased veterinary costs. The veterinary authorities would have confiscated more animals and brought them to them. The financial burden is almost impossible to bear.
Animal shelters are usually run by associations. These are financed, for example, by membership fees, donations, agency fees and events. They also receive money from the municipalities if they find animals. However, this flat rate is far from enough, Geyer complained. They had already contacted the municipalities to get more money. Because if the local animal shelter closes, the municipality also has a problem: it is obliged to take care of abandoned animals.
After all, homes that have taken in animals from Ukraine this year can hope for state support. In September, the federal government agreed on financial aid – a total of five million euros are to flow. Each animal shelter affected should receive between 7,500 and 50,000 euros. “But this is only a one-off payment. It helps at the moment, but not permanently,” said Lindig from the animal protection association. In order to improve the situation of animal shelters, a lot has to change. For example, he is also demanding more money from the municipalities. Although they would take a lot of dog tax, their payments for found animals to the homes are not cost-covering for them.
Internet trade in animals must at least be regulated and proof of competence must be made mandatory before buying a dog, he explained. “That would mean that not so many people would buy a dog that they couldn’t get along with and then end up with us as an animal with behavioral problems.”
