Tierheim Berlin: Shocking statistics and illness threaten animals!

The Berlin animal shelter looks back on an eventful year 2024, in which numerous animals were exposed, handed over or saved from catastrophic conditions. During this time, a total of 4,091 animals were recorded. Of these, 2,761 animals found a new home, including 413 dogs, 1,603 cats, 413 small animals and 208 birds. The committed zookeepers and the animal shelter team do valuable work and contact the animal lovers via Instagram to show support and gratitude. In addition, Berlin Live from Vogelseeuche, the Newcastle-System, which broke out at the animal shelter at the end of the year. This highly contagious disease is often fatal to birds and presents the facility with great challenges.

In the event of a breakout of the Newcastle disease, the pathogen was detected in seven pigeons in the shelter, which made comprehensive protective measures necessary to protect bird stock. According to Tiereschutz Berlin Eva Rönspieß, the CEO of the animal welfare association, said that the situation was extremely stressful for the employees. The teams in the veterinary practice and in the birdhouses are both mentally and physically at the limit, since they maintain close relationships with the animals that often live in the shelter for a long time. The primary goal remains to prevent further infection and to save as many of the 373 birds as possible.

extensive protective measures

In order to bring the outbreak of the disease under control, all the necessary disease protection measures were immediately initiated. This includes extensive disinfection measures that include the logging of the movements on the animal shelter area. The employees disinfect shoes and hands several times a day, and 200 liters of disinfectant have already been used on the first day. The additional protective measures also include the use of gloves, protective clothing, glasses and disinfection mats and tubs.

The financial burdens from these measures are significant, since the Newcastle disease is harmless to people, but the shelter's advisory days are no longer available in order to exclude the risk of transmission. The animals continue to be taught, but only after prior appointment. For current information, the animal shelter offers continuous updates on your website.